health first

The state health exchange enters its final week of this year’s open enrollment, and Marylanders appear more interested in buying health insurance than many Americans.

By Meredith Cohn

Dec 10, 2018

A Democratic staff report prepared at the request of U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings finds that roughly 3.5 million Marylanders face skyrocketing premiums or losing coverage altogether because of pre-existing conditions, age or gender.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Oct 2, 2018

Marylanders covered by Obamacare plans purchased on the individual market are likely to see hefty decreases in their 2019 premiums, thanks to legislation the General Assembly adopted this year. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Kaiser Permanente are seeking to lower rates for HMO plans.

By Michael Dresser

Sep 14, 2018

The Westminster Police Department is the first Maryland law Enforcement Agency to complete the One Mind Campaign, an initiative aimed at improving the interaction between police and citizens affected by mental illness.

Attacks on Affordable Care Act spell trouble not just for patients but for small businesses as well.

Evergreen to be wound down by state unless new buyer steps forward

By Sarah Gantz

Jul 27, 2017

Insurers press ahead with rate increase requests on their Obamacare policies though Congress has not decided what changes it will make to the health law.

By Meredith Cohn

Jul 17, 2017

More than three dozen organizations are calling on Maryland's insurance regulator to reject big rate increases proposed by the state's dominant carrier, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, for plans sold to individuals on the exchange created by the Affordable Care Act

By Meredith Cohn

Jun 20, 2017

More than 200 people showed up for a town hall meeting on the Affordable Care Act at HCC Tuesday evening, but Rep. Andy Harris, who wants to repeal the act, was MIA.

By David Anderson

Feb 22, 2017

If Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act, the state of Maryland could lose nearly $2 billion in Medicaid money used to help get hundreds of thousand of people insurance in the 2018 fiscal year.

By Meredith Cohn

Jan 19, 2017

The decision by the Maryland Insurance Administration leaves some 6,000 people who had bought Evergreen policies for 2016 with one week to choose a new plan or be automatically assigned to another insurer's policy in order to have coverage Jan. 1. Another 3,000 people who bought individual plans directly from Evergreen will also need to pick a new insurer.

By Sarah Gantz

Dec 8, 2016

With the election of Donald J. Trump, Maryland's health care community is not only worried about the future for the nearly 421,000 people in the state who now have insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act, but also the state's unique cost-control agreement with Medicare.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Nov 9, 2016

State regulators announced they have approved double-digit rate increases for the four companies that sell heath plans on a state exchange, or online marketplace, set up under Affordable Care Act for people who don't get coverage through their employer.

By Andrea K. McDaniels

Sep 12, 2016

As the longest night approaches, depression can be a real issue

Carroll has resources for those experiencing a mental health crisis, but many need help getting help