What health care reform means for uninsured Marylanders
Congress took the historic step to pass a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system. Now what does that mean for you, particularly if you're uninsured?
The legislation will extend insurance coverage to 600,000 more Marylanders -- some 63,000 in Baltimore alone, according to an analysis by Baltimore HealthCare Access, a quasi-public agency that helps link low-income people with Medicaid.
Breaking that down further, according to the group's analysis:
--About 309,000 non-elderly low-income people will be eligible for coverage through an expansion of Medicaid--about 32,000 of them in Baltimore.
--The health care plan comes with an individual mandate that requires nearly everyone have coverage, or face a tax penalty. Low and moderate income people can get help through government subsidies to purchase insurance through new health insurance exchanges. In Maryland some 315,000 will be eligible for subsidies, which kick in for people earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. In Baltimore, about 32,000 people would be eligible for such help. For example: a family of three making $54,930 (which is 300 percent of poverty) would qualify for a subsidy to buy a health plan in a new health exchange. The premium to cover that family wouldn't exceed $5,218 or 9.5 percent of their income.
Important note: the expansion of Medicaid, the creation of the health insurance exchanges and the tax penalty don't kick in until 2014.
We'll bring you more analysis on what the bill means for other groups... For now, here's a good Q&A consumer guide from the folks at Kaiser Health News.
Comments
Uh, "NEARLY" everyone?
Who's exempt?
Posted by: Dave | March 22, 2010 11:00 AM
Dave: Read the "Q&A consumer guide...", last link for the answer.
Posted by: Melissa | March 22, 2010 11:17 AM
Wonderful! For nearly 30 years now, I've been turning down opportunities to buy health insurance. Now, the CRIMINAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT thinks that they can PUT A GUN TO MY HEAD AND FORCE ME TO GET IT??!! I THINK NOT!
Posted by: Live Free or Die | March 22, 2010 11:34 AM
To Live Free or Die ..... I've been paying for health insurance for myself for 45 years and for my children for 25 years. I find it hard to believe that you have never needed the services of a hospital, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. My health premiums have also helped paid for people who don't have insurance and use hospital emergency rooms as their primary doctors. That's the way the system works, and my costs have been higher because of it. I really haven't minded the higher cost because many people live below the poverty line. In your case, you may to be able to afford insurance but refuse to pay for it. If you have an accident (and I'm not wishing that on you) and need emergency care, I hope you can pay for it out-of-pocket because I sure don't want to have to cover you. In my opinion, your thinking is reckless and short-sighted.
Years ago when we were in Holland my then three-year-old fell and cut his lip. I took him to the nearest emergency room, knowing that BC/BS would require me to pay then and get reimbursed when I returned home. I was worried about the cost, but the doctor laughed and said there was no charge. I'm happy we have finally caught up with the rest of the developed world.
Posted by: Patricia | March 22, 2010 2:06 PM
Please clarify: WHO passed the bill -- House, Senate or both? From what I read, only the HOUSE passed a bill and now the Senate must do the same. This is reading as if this is already a done deal.
The way legislation works is, first a bill must be introduced into either the House or Senate, passed by that body, then passed on to the opposite body to be introduced and passed. Usually, there is a committee to work out any differences between what the House and Senate do pass.
When you refer to "Congress" the definition is "the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of BOTH the Senate and the House of Representatives". Erroneously, many reporters use "Congress" to refer only to the House. Further, even worse, is when the media tout something that only ONE of the elected bodies (either House or Senate) passed as if that bill is suddenly law -- and then the media fail to inform readers that that's only HALF the battle; the other elected body must pass the same bill THEN the president must approve it before it becomes law.
Please, be clear in your writing.
Posted by: KND01 | March 22, 2010 2:38 PM
You may want to read the Q&A Consumer Guide, it has some interesting points.
1. Medicare Advantage will be greatly cut back for seniors. Since AARP is sponsored by Medicare supplemental ins companies (that seniors will now have to purchase) they are giddy about this piece of "reform".
2. What happens to my premiums? They will skyrocket. Ins co's don't pay claims in a vaccuum, they will pass on the increases to everyone (but don't call it socialized medicine!)
3. Insurance companies? They will continue to fleece their customers, only now they will have many more of them, and can now charge whatever they want while continuing to deny claims. Overall, HC costs will continue to climb as it always does when giant gov bureaucracy is involved.
Posted by: Aman | March 23, 2010 7:50 AM
it means that all of america will have to pay for something for 3 years without any benefits through taxes. woo hoo......notttt
Posted by: Maryland insurance | August 16, 2010 7:24 PM