Legislature Making Major Progress Toward Reducing Immigration Barriers to Purchasing Health Coverage on State Based Exchange

The Maryland House of Delegates and Senate have passed the Access to Care Act (HB 728/SB 705) sponsored by Senator Antonio Hayes and Delegate Bonnie Cullison. The bills, supported by the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition, will help more Marylanders to purchase health coverage from the state health benefit exchange, regardless of immigration status. The legislation will have no cost to the state, and is predicted to reduce uncompensated hospital care and improve emergency room wait times. Past expansions of access to health coverage reduced uncompensated care by an estimated $460 million according to a recent report, helping to stabilize health insurance premiums for all Marylanders. Each bill has passed one chamber, and the coalition is hopeful the measure will soon win final approval by the Assembly. 

“The General Assembly, thanks to the great leadership of lead sponsors Delegate Bonnie Cullison and Senator Antonio Hayes, is making great progress this year to help us reach our goal of ensuring that no Marylander has to go without health coverage,” said Vincent DeMarco, President of the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition. “We have made major strides in the past several years, and 2024 is shaping up to be another great year for strengthening our health insurance system. This measure will help more Marylanders have peace of mind through the ability to purchase health coverage from Maryland Health Connection. This will have no cost to the state and as we get more and more of our residents covered, we all benefit as we reduce uncompensated hospital care for which we all pay with higher premiums.”

Source

Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative
2600 St. Paul St.,  | Baltimore, Maryland  21218
(410) 235-9000 | [email protected]
healthcareforall.com