affordable care act

• Opinion

Trump's latest effort to undermine the ACA makes Maryland action all the more crucial

Maryland can and should fight back against the Trump administration's effort to gut the ACA, and health policy experts have an ingenious plan to do it.

• Health

General Assembly weighs bill to require Marylanders to buy health insurance

The General Assembly will hold hearings this week on whether to require Marylanders to buy health insurance after federal officials repealed such an individual mandate at the federal level.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Feb 20, 2018

• Maryland

Letter: Overturning Roe v. Wade eliminates safe option for women

Joe Vigliotti waxes poetic regarding the value of human life and suggests that Republicans embrace that value more than Democrats. I want to remind him that it

• Opinion

Time to defend Medicaid and the ACA

President Trump and many in Congress would like to trim vital health spending - we need to tell them not to do it.

• Politics

Former Maryland man confirmed to lead U.S. health department

he Senate voted largely along party lines Wednesday to confirm a former Marylander as President Donald J. Trump’s head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

By John Fritze

Jan 24, 2018

• Maryland

Second annual Baltimore Women's March to be held Saturday

The second Baltimore Women's March will travel from downtown to the Inner Harbor next week.

• Politics

Advocates push new state-level insurance mandate

In an effort to shore up the state's insurance market, some state lawmakers are pushing for a new Maryland-level individual mandate - and using the $700 fine as a "down payment" on providing insurance to more people.

By Erin Cox

Jan 9, 2018

• Health

Obamacare enrollment in Maryland fall just below last year's numbers

Nearly 154,000 people enrolled in private insurance plans under Obamacare, slightly less than the more than 157,000 who enrolled in such plans last year.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Jan 4, 2018

• Harford

Havre de Grace zoning changes leave open possibility for future regional hospital

Proposed changes to Havre de Grace’s zoning ordinance would not only reflect Upper Chesapeake Health’s plans for a new free-standing medical facility near the Interstate 95 interchange, it would also open the door for the site to one day become a regional general hospital.

By Erika Butler

Jan 3, 2018

• Opinion

Witcover: GOP tax bill is a Trojan horse

With health care exchanges for buying coverage in various states struggling to hang on, the Trump administration, in collusion with a compliant Republican leadership on Capitol Hill, strives to sabotage Obamacare by a thousand bleeding cuts.

• Opinion

Trump's list of accomplishments isn't small, but the party is running the show

Mr. Trump's success (such as it is) is less attributable to sudden mastery of the issues than to staying out of the way of rank-and-file Republican policymakers, activists and bureaucrats.

• Health

New Maryland law makes contraceptives more affordable, easier to get

A law that goes into affect Jan. 1 makes contraception more affordable by getting rid of co-pays, covering vasectomies and allowing women to buy birth control for six months at a time.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Dec 28, 2017

• Politics

President Trump's first year plays heavily into Maryland politics

President Donald J. Trump remains deeply unpopular in Maryland, but his tumultuous first year in the White House left an unmistakable imprint on state politics.

By John Fritze

Dec 28, 2017

• Opinion

What Maryland needs to do to cope with the GOP tax bill

Gov. Larry Hogan is right that Maryland should do something to prevent a massive backdoor tax increase after the GOP tax cuts. But there are other consequences state leaders should be mindful of as well.

• Business

Businesses may owe millions of dollars as IRS begins enforcement of employer mandate

As Republicans move forward with plan to eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate as part of their tax plan, the Internal Revenue Service is quietly cashing in another provision that requires certain businesses to provide health insurance.

By Sarah Gantz

Dec 22, 2017

• Health

Open enrollment in Obamacare in Maryland ends today

The fifth open enrollment in Obamacare comes to a close in Maryland, and while signs ups in the state match last year's tally, the Affordable Care Act remains under threat by a series of steps in Washington.

By Meredith Cohn

Dec 22, 2017

• Commentary

Vigliotti: Celebrate Trump’s victory on taxes

Americans should celebrate the tax reform promised by President Donald Trump and Republicans — one that has the potential to rival tax reform under conservative President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, and one which has the potential to unleash the American economy in ways unseen in years.

• Opinion

Now that the GOP has passed its tax bill, Americans get to find out what's in it (Spoiler alert: It's not good)

The tax cut legislation Republicans pushed through at warp speed is already unpopular. Wait 'til average voters actually experience it.

• Politics

Despite glitch, Congress poised to approve GOP tax plan

Lawmakers were expected to give final approval Wednesday to a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s tax laws despite deep opposition from Democrats and a last-minute hiccup that forced Republican supporters to delay their celebration.

• Opinion

GOP tax cut coal in our stockings

The Republican tax cut is no Christmas present for America.

• Politics

Congress poised to approve major overhaul of federal taxes

Congressional Republicans were on the verge of approving the first major overhaul of the nation’s tax laws in three decades as negotiators locked down the final version of the bill Friday and two key Senate holdouts announced they would support the measure.

By John Fritze

Dec 15, 2017

• Opinion

Obamacare and the forgotten middle class

Obamacare has value, but at too high a cost for many middle income Americans.

• Maryland

Editorial: Still time to sign up for health insurance

Marylanders who purchase health insurance under the Affordable Care Act were given a holiday reprieve from an early deadline and have another week to sign up. But procrastinators shouldn’t dawdle any longer. The deadline is Dec. 22.

• Health

Maryland health exchange extends deadline to enroll in Obamacare

Those seeking health insurance on the state’s exchange will get an extra week to enroll, which is an effort by authorities to avoid a last-minute crush because of the Trump administration shortened the period to sign-up.

By Meredith Cohn

Dec 13, 2017

• Maryland

Deadline to sign up for health insurance in Maryland extended

People not insured through an employer can shop for plans, see if they qualify for Medicaid or tax subsidies for purchasing insurance and enroll by visiting www.marylandhealthconnection.gov or by calling 855-642-8572.

• News

U.S. health care spending growth slowed last year

U.S. health spending increased 4.3 percent to $3.3 trillion last year.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Dec 8, 2017

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: The true path to prosperity

Economic growth doesn't "trickle down;" it rises up from investment in average Americans, says Robert B. Reich.

• Opinion

Senate tax bill a 'ticking time bomb'

senate plan will raise taxes for low- and middle-income families

• Opinion

How Hogan can save Obamacare in Maryland

Even if Senate Republicans and the Trump administration gut Obamacare, Maryland can preserve its benefits here.

• Opinion

Witcover: Senate GOP dissenters may sink tax bill, delivering goose egg to Trump

Proposed tax cuts, as well as the attempt to kill Obamacare, are headed for considerable resistance in the Senate, says Jules Witcover.

• Opinion

Md. will protect health care even if U.S. won't

While the health care proposals coming out of Washington seem to change every hour, the Maryland General Assembly is leading an effort to be prepared for any outcome.

• Opinion

Republicans don't understand that Americans depend on Obamacare

The Grand Old Party remains hung up on the false belief that most Americans don't want Obamacare, despite all evidence to the contrary.

• Opinion

Trump thinks he has a mandate. He doesn't

The only reason Trump got elected is because he wasn't Hillary Clinton

• Opinion

Senate tax plan goes from bad to worse

The Senate GOP tax plan may actually be worse than the House version, frightening as that is to contemplate.

• Opinion

We will fight for our kids' health care, Congress

Know this, Congress: When you have spent as much time in hospitals watching your kid fight for her life as I have, you don’t just sit still and do nothing. You don’t stay quiet and hope for the best. Parents like me, we fight for our kids and their health care.

• Business

Hospital presidents talk about health issues with business owners

The presidents of the University of Maryland Medical Center and The Johns Hopkins Hospital speak to members of the Greater Baltimore Committee on a wide range of health issues during its monthly newsmaker breakfast.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Nov 15, 2017

• Politics

Trump names former Eastern Shore resident as next Health and Human Services secretary

President Donald Trump said Monday he intends to nominate a former pharmaceutical executive and Maryland resident as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

By John Fritze

Nov 13, 2017

• Health

Enrollments in the Maryland health exchange up in first week

Enrollments though the Maryland health exchange are up in the first week of the sign-up period, mirroring reports of heavy activity on the federal exchange and defying some expectations.

By Meredith Cohn

Nov 8, 2017

• Opinion

Sky high premiums on Md.'s health exchange

Health care insurance on the Md. exchange isn't affordable

• Health

Obamacare signups rise on first day of enrollment period in Maryland

The Maryland Health Exchange said the first day of open enrollment went well, with the number signing up outpacing last year.

By Meredith Cohn

Nov 2, 2017

• Opinion

Robert B. Reich: The huge tax heist

Robert B. Reich shows why the average American's tax bill and other expenses will rise under the Republican's $5.8 trillion tax "cut" plan.

• Health

Open enrollment period for Obamacare plans begins today

The fifth open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act begins today and lasts for 45 days.

By Meredith Cohn

Nov 1, 2017

• Opinion

Obamacare open enrollment starts today; here's what you need to know

Despite the efforts of President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans to kill it, the ACA is alive and well.

• Health

Panel shares advice on navigating Maryland's health exchange

At a Newsmaker Forum sponsored by The Baltimore Sun, city health commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said that while the language surrounding health care remains highly politicized, the health department’s stance remains simple.

By Talia Richman

Oct 30, 2017

• Politics

Brochin wants General Assembly special session on health insurance subsidies

A state senator is calling for a special session of the General Assembly to deal with President Donald J. Trump’s decision not to fund subsidies for individual health insurance plans sold under the Affordable Care Act.

By Pamela Wood

Oct 27, 2017

• Health

Maryland insurance regulators increase rates to cover Trump subsidy cuts

Maryland insurance regulators increased rates for individual plans under Obamacare to make up for subsidies cut by the Trump Administration.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Oct 25, 2017

• Opinion

Rodricks must get out of his healthcare bubble

Should my wife and I put in more than the seventy hours a week we now average so the entitlement generation can continue to do nothing while enjoying the fruits of our labor?

• Baltimore County

Trump's cutting of health spending could spell trouble for Hogan's reelection

President Trump's decision to cut federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act puts Gov. Hogan in a tight spot since he's running for re-election at the same time health care is on the front burner.

• Opinion

Is Blue Cross Blue Shield really a nonprofit?

Let’s forget about politics for now, how can any individual or any small business owner who really pays for their insurance survive? 

• Opinion

Hey KAL: George W. Bush didn't lie; Obama did

That "Bush lied" liberal claim has been litigated extensively without any finding of lies on his part.