BALTIMORE, MD
(September 9, 2008) - The latest phase
of Governor Martin
O'Malley's health care expansion plan begins
today with the start of
enrollment to the Health Insurance
Partnership, a premium subsidy
initiative for small businesses.
"Small businesses are
the engine of Maryland's economy and in many
cases, the cost of health insurance
is out of reach for many of these
employers," said Governor O'Malley.
"Today I am proud to say that our
state is able to help them provide
coverage to their employees.
Despite
difficult economic times, we have
demonstrated again and again the
resolve of the people of Maryland to
protect our shared priorities."
Eligibility
in the Health Insurance Partnership is
limited to a small
business that has two to nine full-time
employees, has not offered
health insurance to its employees
during the previous 12 months, and has
an average wage below $50,000.
Businesses that meet these criteria may
be eligible to receive a subsidy of
up to 50 percent of their health
insurance premium.
"We continue
to move forward in our effort to ensure that
all Marylanders
receive the health care coverage they
deserve," said
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)
Secretary John M.
Colmers. "In July, we began providing access
to quality health care
services to eligible parents of
children. Now, Maryland's small
businesses are able to join this
expansion effort."
The Health
Insurance Partnership is a coordinated
effort between DHMH,
the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC),
participating insurance
carriers and employers. Made possible
by the 2007 passage of the
Working Families and Small Business
Health Coverage Act, enrollment in
the small business portion of the Act
begins today, with coverage
effective on October 1. Employers
will have their choice of health
benefit plans offered by CareFirst
BCBS, Coventry Health Care, United
Healthcare and Aetna.
The
Partnership is expected to enroll over 1,500
businesses in its first
year. Enrollment will be capped to
stay within the program's approved
annual budget. The Maryland Health
Care Commission (MHCC) is charged
with the administration of the
Partnership.
"We've worked
with many groups to make the Partnership
easy to
understand, easy to enroll in, and easy to
administer," said MHCC chair
Marilyn Moon. "This partnership
between small businesses and government
offers an innovative way to reduce
the number of uninsured in our
state."
In July, Maryland
began implementation of the Working Families
and Small Business
Health Coverage Act by opening enrollment to
Medical Assistance
to Families, an expansion of Medicaid that
covers parents with incomes
up to $20,500 for a family of three,
or 116 percent of the federal
poverty level.
In addition to the
healthcare expansion, earlier this year,
Governor O'Malley
signed legislation that provides
prescription drug assistance
for thousands of Maryland's seniors,
by helping close the coverage gap
in the federal government's Medicare
Part D prescription drug program,
known as the "donut hole." In
addition, Governor O'Malley signed
legislation that expanded dental
benefits to Maryland's most vulnerable
children.
More information on
the Health Insurance Partnership and Medical
Assistance to Families is available
by clicking on the "Working Families
and Small Business Coverage" link
located under "Hot Topics at
are PDF.
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