State Expansions: Maryland

On November 19, 2007, during the close of the Maryland Legislature’s special session, the State Assembly passed the Working Families and Small Business Coverage Act of 2007 (SB 6), a proposal that significantly expanded Medicaid eligibility for adults and helped uninsured small businesses afford coverage. Previously, parents could qualify for Medicaid only if their incomes fell below 46 percent of the federal poverty level (about $8,100 per year for a family of three in 2008), and non-disabled childless adults were not eligible for the program, regardless of income.

The Working Families and Small Business Coverage Act expands health coverage access to over 100,000 uninsured Marylanders by increasing the Medicaid income eligibility level for both parents and childless adults to 116 percent of poverty ($20,416 for a family of three and $12,064 for an individual in 2008). The law also provides $15 million in grants to uninsured small businesses that start offering coverage.

The law became effective in July 2008 for low-income parents and uninsured small businesses. The Medicaid expansion to childless adults will be implemented within four years, contingent upon funding and a federal waiver. Adults who become eligible for Medicaid will receive the same benefit package as other Medicaid recipients in the state.

In mid-November 2008, the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative released a proposal to cover all Marylanders that builds on the state's recent progress. The plan would expand Medicaid to parents with income lower 300 percent of poverty ($52,800 for a family of three in 2008), and 200 percent of poverty for non-parent adults ($20,800 for an individual in 2008). It also includes a pooling mechanism for individuals and small businesses that would lower administrative overhead. See the plan summary or full plan for more information.

Maryland Expansion Resources

• Insurance Commissioner Tyler Announces Health Insurance Reform Package for 2009 Legislative Session (Maryland Insurance Administration, February 4, 2009)
• Healthy Maryland: A Building Block for Maryland's Economy (Families USA, October 2007)
• Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative-Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition

Maryland in the News

• Maryland Reins in Hospital Costs by Setting Rates: State Commission Aims to Keep Expenses Lower, Gain Charity Care—in Exchange for Greater Regulation (Wall Street Journal, September 14, 2009)
• Maryland Universal Health Care Plan Wins Backing from Black Chambers of Commerce (Washington Business Journal, May 27, 2009)
• Subsidized Insurance Backed (Washington Post, November 12, 2008)
• Programs Make More Marylanders Eligible for Insurance (Cumberland Times-News, October 10, 2008)
• Ad Campaign Targets Uninsured Residents (Baltimore Sun, September 24, 2008)
• Small Businesses Get Help with Insurance (The Business Gazette, July 11, 2008)
• O'Malley: 100,000 Added to Medicaid Just the Beginning (The Daily Record, July 7, 2008)
• Maryland Offers Health Plan Subsidy for Micro Firms (The Washington Post, July 3, 2008)
• Dental-Care Access Expands: To Help Poor Children, Md. Increases Medicaid Rates Paid (Washington Post, April 20, 2008) 
• Kids’ Health Insurance Plan Moves Forward (Washington Post, March 26, 2008)  
• House Approves $31 Billion Budget Along Party Lines (Washington Post, March 21, 2008) 
• Maryland Praised for Medicaid Changes Since Death (Washington Post, February 15, 2008)
• Assembly Pushes Health Care and Bay Fund across the Finish Line (Montgomery Gazette, November 19, 2007)
• Bid to Expand Medicaid Gets Fresh Momentum (Washington Post, September 12, 2007)
  

For general resources on state expansions, see Other Resources.

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