The Maryland House of Representatives has voted in favor of a bill that would allow people to buy health insurance through the state's health insurance exchanges regardless of their immigration status, with approval of a federal exemption.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The Maryland House of Representatives on Friday approved a measure that would allow citizens to buy health insurance through the state's health insurance exchanges regardless of immigration status, with approval from the federal government for a waiver.
The House voted 101-34 in favor of the bill, which now goes to the Senate, where a similar bill is being considered.
The measure would require the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange to submit a federal waiver application by July 1, 2025, to implement the program. The exemption is necessary because of federal restrictions on illegal immigrants taking advantage of the market. Washington state received such a waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in late 2022. If granted a waiver, Maryland's program could begin as early as 2026.
The Maryland Health Exchange was created during the 2011 legislative session to provide a marketplace for people and small businesses to purchase affordable health insurance. Through Maryland Health Connection, Maryland residents can shop for health insurance plans and compare rates.
Since Maryland created the health insurance system and expanded Medicaid through the federal Affordable Care Act, the state has reduced the number of uninsured residents from about 756,000 to about 350,000 (about 350,000 people (about 30% of the state's population). 6%), a reduction of more than 50%, Dell said. Jocelyn Pena-Melnyk, Chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee.
Of the remaining uninsured people in the state, about 256,000 are illegal immigrants, Penamelnik said. He noted that undocumented immigrants who buy health insurance through the exchanges work in the state, pay taxes in the state and also pay for the plan.
“This is preventive medicine, and when it's preventive, it's cheap and it helps all of us. This is not free, it's not free, it's not free,” Pena-Melnyk said emphatically.
But Rep. Mark Fisher, R-Calvert County, argued that Marylanders who are U.S. citizens often have long wait times to see a doctor, and why the state could pass through state exchanges for non-citizens. He questioned whether it was necessary to expand health insurance coverage. Nation.
“Health equity means nothing if you can't see a doctor. It's just nonsense. That's what we're experiencing across the state and of course in Calvert County,” Fisher said. “I don’t understand why someone who is an American citizen believes they have to stand in line behind someone who is not an American citizen.”
But Penamelnik said the measure would help everyone because if people without health insurance needed treatment, they would end up going to the emergency room, which can be expensive.
“This saves us a lot of money, because, guess what? Hospitals spent $120 million to $150 million on free care last year,” said Pena Melnyk, a Prince George's County Democrat. said during Friday's debate, while also noting that Maryland's emergency room wait times are among the worst in the nation.
