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MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

In June 2011, the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange was established as a public corporation and an independent unit of State government to reduce the number of Maryland residents who have no health insurance (Chapters 1 & 2, Acts of 2011; Code Insurance Article, secs. 31-101 through 31-111). Maryland formed the Exchange to meet requirements under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152). The federal statute requires each state to establish a health benefit exchange by January 1, 2014 or choose one run by the federal government. Maryland chose to operate its own exchange, and received conditional federal approval of its marketplace governance and structure in December 2012.

To provide Marylanders with high quality, affordable private health plans at competitive prices, the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange administers the State-based health insurance marketplace, Maryland Health Connection, which helps individuals purchase qualified health plans in the individual insurance market. Maryland Health Connection opened enrollment for individuals on October 1, 2013.

To begin coverage January 1, 2014, enrollees were required to submit forms by December 27, 2013. For those who could not enroll due to technical difficulties on the website, the deadline was extended to January 21, 2014 for retroactive coverage to January 1.

Open enrollment for 2014 ended on March 31, 2014. Individuals who attempted to enroll before the deadline but were unable to submit their application had until April 18, 2014 to complete their enrollment. The next open enrollment for coverage in 2015 begins November 15, 2014 and ends February 15, 2015.

Beginning April 1, 2014, small business owners may enroll their employees in health insurance plans certified under the Small Business Options Program (SHOP). Employers with from one to fifty employees will purchase insurance plans directly from a carrier, a third-party administrator, or a broker, and, for those who are eligible, receive federal small business tax credits. After January 1, 2015, small businesses will be able to enroll in plans through the Maryland Health Connection.

The Exchange operates a Consumer Support Center with a toll-free hotline (1-855-642-8572), and maintains a website (www.marylandhealthconnection.gov) with comprehensive information on available health plans. It also provides an electronic calculator to compute the actual cost of coverage, factoring in all variables, such as tax credits and cost-sharing. To assist consumers, the Exchange maintains a network of certified navigators who help those seeking to enroll in Medicaid or other health plans.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees. Six of the Board's members are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms, and three serve ex officio. With the approval of the Governor, the Board appoints the Executive Director (Code Insurance Article, secs. 3-104, 3-105).

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