Lower Your Health Insurance Cost: The Maryland Health Connection by Stacey Coles
which can drop some monthly premiums to as low as $10. Qualifications for financial assistance include income, age, county of residence, and family size. While the private plan enrollment period is November 1 through January 15, MHBE offers various special enrollment opportunities for specific life events. If you qualify for Medicaid or the Maryland Children’s Health Program, you may enroll at any time. No matter your situation, Eberle ensures that year-round customer support (marylandhealthconnection.gov/find-help/) is available. “Our mission is to make sure that we’re increasing the health and well-being of Marylanders by connecting them to affordable quality healthcare through our technology, [consumer assistance,
When it comes to kitchen table concerns, health care costs are usually at the top of the list. While Maryland’s health insurance premiums remain 25-30 percent lower than similar plans across the nation, unexpected medical bills can bankrupt a family. Applying for the Maryland Health Connection can help individuals and families save money and prepare for those unforeseen emergencies. The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) is a state agency that operates the Maryland Health Connection (MHC). The MHC helps eligible applicants enroll and determine Medicaid eligibility or acquire affordable private plans. “We’re the state marketplace… where people can come look
for health insurance, compare all the plans from all the carriers, see if your doctor’s in the network, if the drugs [you need] are covered and compare all the prices,” said Executive Director of the MHBE, Michele Eberle. “Maryland Health Connection is the only place to get subsidies … or tax credits for private health plans.” Through the MHC, you can lower your monthly health insurance premium with an Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC). APTC is a healthcare tax credit that
and benefit design],” Eberle said. “[Carriers are required] to include certain things in the plans that will help address Maryland’s public health issues. For instance, diabetes is a large cost driver in the state. We require the carrier to offer one free foot exam every year [and we] have limited the amount that a carrier can charge for insulin, because if you are not able to manage your diabetes, then what’s the purpose of having health insurance?” Since the establishment
of the Affordable Care Act (2010) and the MHBE (2011), Maryland’s uninsured rate has dropped from 14 percent to just six percent. Find out if you’re eligible for enrollment today: marylandhealthconnection.gov.
can either be applied to your health insurance premium monthly or added to your annual tax refund amount. In addition, the Young Adult Subsidy Program is available for those between the ages of 18 and 37. Eberle notes that the average subsidy amount per person is about $38,
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