| Contact: Vincent DeMarco May 3, 2023 |
| The Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition today salutes Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland General Assembly as two major bills are being signed into law expanding access to affordable health insurance. The bills will help the state come closer to its goal of universal access to affordable coverage by making it easier for low-income Marylanders to enroll in insurance and providing subsidies for coverage for young adults, a population with disproportionately high rates of uninsurance. “I learned from a young age the importance of providing health insurance to every Marylander,” Gov. Moore said. “I’m proud to sign these bills which will give coverage to thousands of people across Maryland. Every single person in our state deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare, and I’ll work day and night to ensure that is happening from western Maryland all the way to the Eastern Shore.” “We are excited at the progress the General Assembly made this year toward our goal of having all Marylanders covered with affordable health insurance. These two measures will help us reach more Marylanders to get enrolled in the coverage that they need,” said Vincent DeMarco, President of the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition. “We are grateful to Governor Moore, Lt. Governor Aruna Miller and the administration for supporting these bills. We also thank our terrific bill sponsors, Senator Malcolm Augustine, Senator Brian Feldman, Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, and Delegate Ken Kerr, as well as key committee chairs, Senator Melony Griffith and Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, for leading the fight in the legislature this year.” Governor Moore is signing two key health insurance measures into law: Enroll SNAP Recipients in Medicaid (SB 26/HB 111). Sponsored by Senator Malcolm Augustine and Delegate Lorig Charkoudian, the measure will automatically enroll recipients of SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) into Medicaid who are eligible but not yet enrolled. This measure will reduce paperwork and help an estimated 65,000 uninsured Marylanders get the health coverage they need, including 23,000 Black Marylanders and 28,000 Latinos, improving health equity. In addition, the legislation will renew coverage automatically for at least 600,000 Marylanders who rely on Medicaid for their health care. Health Care Subsidies for Young Adults (SB 601/HB 814). This measure, sponsored by Senator Brian Feldman and Delegate Kenneth Kerr, will extend a successful pilot for another two years, providing state subsidies to bring down the cost of health insurance for young adults ages 18-34. State officials say this program has assisted roughly 45,000 young adults, including 17,000 newly enrolled young adults, and has reduced health disparities within this age group. ### |
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Media Advisory: State and Local Leaders Call for Extending Successful Subsidy Program Providing Affordable Health Insurance to Young Adults
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Media Release: Maryland Health Care For All Coalition Applauds State Leaders for First-in-the-Nation Action to Make Prescription Drugs More Affordable
Last modified: May 4, 2023
