health insurance

Maryland will recoup millions spent on the disastrous roll-out of the state’s health exchange created under the Affordable Care Act.

By Meredith Cohn

Jun 14, 2019

California takes a step toward making sure undocumented don't slip through health care cracks.

Despite interest from advocacy groups and legislators, we are still working to establish some traction for single payer in Maryland. What are we afraid of?

Letters appearing in the June 4, 2019 Carroll County Times.

Several other countries have been far more successful than the U.S. in controlling health care spending while preserving private insurance. Here's how.

Maryland got more good news on the rates on its Affordable Care Act exchange, but the battle to expand health insurance coverage isn't over.

Universal health coverage worked in Taiwan and can work in the United States

Governor Hogan has now been given yet another opportunity to improve health care in Maryland with two pieces of bipartisan landmark legislation that have landed on his desk for consideration.

Physicians, politicians and the public must join together to push back against big business and advocate for what many know as “Medicare for All” or “single payer,” but I prefer to call “Health Care for All.”

Several health bills passed the legislature this session, including one to make it easier for the uninsured to enroll in a plan, a board to control drug prices and extension of a tax to stabilize the insurance market.

Why does Trump want to wait to formulate his health care plan? Could it be that, as with many of his pronouncements on issues — like climate change, foreign relations, and tariffs — he has no clue or plan? 

Health provider Kaiser Permanente paid Mayor Catherine Pugh more than $100,000 for about 20,000 copies of her “Healthy Holly” children’s books during a period in which the company was seeking a lucrative contract to provide health benefits to city employees.

As a medical oncologist with a full-time practice, I deal with treatment delays and other consequences of prior authorization every day. And physicians across the nation believe the problem is getting worse.

As Washington politics continue to risk instability for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and health insurance markets, Maryland policy makers are working in a bipartisan manner in the best interests of the citizens of Maryland.

The Harford County Public Schools have a total Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) liability of more than $1 billion as of the end of fiscal 2018. The liability for retirees' health insurance benefits — separate from pensions — was discussed before the Harford County Council Tuesday.

By David Anderson

Feb 14, 2019

State lawmakers and health organizations are pushing a bill that would require Marylanders to have health insurance, and charge them a penalty if they don’t — although the money could be used to buy insurance instead.

By Pamela Wood

Feb 13, 2019

In the 2008 Democratic primary, Barack Obama ran against an individual mandate for health care coverage, which his rival Hillary Clinton supported. But Obama

There is no good reason why the United States has such a high maternal death rate.

Just in case an off-the-wall Texas ruling throwing out the Affordable Care Act is upheld, Maryland should take some steps to protect its residents' health insurance coverage.

During the open enrollment period from Nov. 1-Dec. 15, 156,963 Marylanders enrolled in health insurance through Maryland Health Connection, marking a 2 percent increase from the 153,571 people that signed up for health insurance through the state’s exchange last year.

By Sarah Meehan

Dec 17, 2018

Insurance mandate would be helpful to lowering insurance prices but don't overlook efforts to reduce prescription drug costs.

We are reaching out to make certain that everyone who needs health insurance knows that open enrollment for 2019 Maryland Health Benefits Exchange (MHBE) plans is underway for Harford County residents through December 15, 2018. 

While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated that individuals buy health insurance, the federal penalty for not doing so has been eliminated. Maryland should consider its own mandate.

As the Harford County Health Officer, I want to share my thoughts about the new medical campus plans proposed for Aberdeen.

The benefits of Upper Chesapeake’s plan are so important that I remain steadfast in my support of this critical health care project now slated for construction in nearby Aberdeen. Simply stated, Upper Chesapeake’s Vision 2020 Plan will create a forward thinking regional health system.

Since the national Republican Party and our governor are disinclined to rein in drug prices, Marylanders hoping for relief with the bills they pay at the pharmacy, should take a closer look at Democrat Ben Jealous’ health care strategy.

Open enrollment on Maryland's health insurance exchange starts Nov. 1. If you've ever gone uninsured because you don't think you can afford coverage, you should check it out.

Conventional wisdom says Americans vote their pocketbooks. That’s why health care offers Democrats an advantage in the midterms, despite the strong economy and the shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act.

For weeks, Maryland leaders have been touting a bipartisan deal that will allow the state’s residents to pay lower premiums to buy health insurance — the first such rate reductions in years. But what state officials didn’t highlight is that as premiums are going down, deductibles are going up.

By Luke Broadwater

Oct 13, 2018

Ben Jealous has the leadership qualities and vision to be a good governor.

Gov. Larry Hogan on Friday touted lower rates for Marylanders who buy their own health insurance — a formal conclusion to a months-long effort to avoid sharp rate increases.

Md. avoided a spike in insurance costs this year but the 'fix' is only temporary - long-term solutions must be found.

All those involved in Maryland's reinsurance plan to shore up the Affordable Care Act Exchange deserve credit, but their work isn't done.

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

Maryland's attorney general has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration for efforts he says are intended to undercut the nation's

The Maryland Health Care Commission’s decision to stop reviewing the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health’s applications for a new specialty psychiatric hospital and a free-standing medical center is a logical step given the recent turmoil into which the plan has fallen.

 Studying health impacts of disasters for a living, I often think about worst-cases and who bears the brunt. This outlook became unexpectedly relevant several days ago when I sat in the exam chair of a dentist who specializes in root canals and was reminded how fortunate I am to have dental care.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan and leading Maryland Democrats on Wednesday celebrated federal approval of a waiver they say will prevent the state’s Obamacare marketplace from collapse — and save health insurance coverage for about 250,000 state residents.

By Luke Broadwater

Aug 22, 2018

Top Maryland officials plan to announce Wednesday that the Trump administration has approved a federal waiver would stave off expected increases in health insurance costs for more than 200,000 state residents.

By Michael Dresser

Aug 21, 2018

Analysis of cost and benefits of single payer health care overstates the former and under-counts the latter.

A replacement medical facility for Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace may not be at Bulle Rock in that city, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health officials say. Instead, the Harford County nonprofit healthcare company is looking at sites in neighboring Aberdeen

By Erika Butler

Jul 23, 2018

The kind of single-payer health care plan Ben Jealous is proposing would be expensive, but so is the status quo.

State-sponsored health insurance for all Marylanders such as the single-payer plan proposed by Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous could cost $24 billion a year, forcing lawmakers to significantly raise taxes, according to a nonpartisan analysis.

By Luke Broadwater

Jul 17, 2018

The Trump's administration's reproductive health plan would only treat patients who have health insurance from their employers or are wealthy enough to pay out-of-pocket. And it would require clinicians to knowingly withhold evidence-based treatment.

Maryland's efforts to keep health insurance affordable may help but only real fix for a broken insurance system is Medicare expansion.

Likely the most significant thing to come out of the 2018 legislative session was a bipartisan agreement to shore up the ACA marketplaces, but the work is not done.

State lawmakers have finalized a bipartisan measure to collect $380 million in taxes from health insurers next year, use the money to help hold down surging premiums for 150,000 Marylanders — and potentially prevent an Obamacare marketplace from altogether collapsing.

By Scott Dance

Apr 4, 2018

Maryland lawmakers must take additional steps to ensure that people have access to quality health care.

Fearful that Maryland's individual insurance market could collapse weeks before Election Day, Democrat and Republican leaders have pushed a $380 million tax to shore up Obamacare in Maryland next year.

It's no coincidence that Gov. Larry Hogan is teaming up with Democrats in the legislature to shore up Obamacare. It could be a huge issue for him — and Republicans nationwide — come November.