Maryland – Expanded health insurance options saved Marylanders $460 million that they would have otherwise paid out of pocket.
Vincent DeMarco, CEO of Maryland Health Care for All (MHCFA), said medical bills are the number one reason people file for bankruptcy. “This is a moral obligation to ensure that everyone has access to the health care they need,” he said.
But DeMarco said the new option will benefit all residents. “When people who don't have insurance go to the hospital, they can't pay the bill, and that uncompensated treatment is reflected in our premiums,” he says. “Former Speaker of the House Mike Bush called this the 'hidden health care tax.'”
Health policy consultant Steve Ports said the $460 million saved would have gone toward paying health insurance premiums for all Marylanders.
“Hospital unpaid care as a percentage of hospital revenue is 4.3%, down from 8.5% in 2007,” Ports said. “In 2007, Maryland passed a bill to expand Medicaid. And of course, everyone is familiar with the Affordable Care Act of 2014.”
Gene Ransom, CEO of the Maryland State Medical Association, said this medical expansion is having a positive impact not only on Maryland, but especially on the Eastern Shore.
“Counties like Queen Anne's have a significant number of uninsured people, but that number has declined over the past 15 years, which means less burden on regular taxpayers,” Ransom said. said. “We have uninsured residents. So by reducing the number of uninsured residents who are Queen Anne's County residents, it will reduce the tax burden and premium burden for people living in that county.”
