Maryland Health Insurance

State Health Care Expenditures: Experience from 2007, an annual report that contains information on health care expenditures for Maryland residents by public and private sources during calendar year 2007, was released today by Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) chair Dr. Marilyn Moon. Mandated by health care reform legislation passed in 1993, this report continues the MHCC’s effort to measure health care spending in Maryland.

Major findings include:

This week, more than 20 Maryland hospitals are participating in the nationally-designated Cover the Uninsured Week by hosting events to spread the word that Maryland has affordable health coverage options.

Maryland lawmakers are considering a number of bills that seek to provide greater accountability and regulation in the health insurance industry, the Washington Post reports. Maryland Insurance Commissioner Ralph Tyler, who is advocating for many of the proposed changes, said that "we're trying to undo outdated rules that are not fair to consumers," adding, "Most citizens don't know what their rights are."

Among the proposals being considered are measures that would:

Between 2006 and 2007, 15.4% of Maryland's non-elderly residents -- or about 760,000 people ages 65 and younger -- did not have health insurance coverage, according to a report released on Thursday by the Maryland Health Care Commission, the Annapolis Capital reports.

According to the commission's report, the rate was similar to the 14.9% rate for the 2004-2005 period and remains below the national uninsurance average of 17.5%.

Maryland's most recent nonelderly uninsured and employment-based coverage rates are not significantly different from those rates in 2004–2005. In 2006–2007, about 760,000 nonelderly state residents lacked health insurance, amounting to 15.4 percent of Maryland's nonelderly population. However, the latest uninsured rate is significantly higher than the state's rate in 2002-2003, 14.4 percent.

Governor Martin O'Malley today joined Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch to celebrate landmark legislation to expand medical coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Marylanders and encourage eligible families to enroll in the expanded program. The Governor was also joined by Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers, Department of Human Resources Secretary Brenda Donald, state and local lawmakers, and members of the HealthCare for All Coalition and the AARP.

Summaries of recent news about Medicaid programs in California, Maryland, Mississippi and Nevada appear below.

Governor Martin O’Malley today announced important steps that Maryland is taking to expand health insurance coverage for more working families and small businesses. In coordination with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) participating insurance carriers, and advocates, the State of Maryland will be working to enroll members in the Health Insurance Partnership, a premium subsidy program for small businesses.