Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks Urges County Residents to Get Insured During Open Enrollment

LANDOVER – Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks urges Prince George’s residents, to sign up for health insurance through Maryland Health Connection to purchase quality and affordable health coverage. Open enrollment ends on December 15, 2018. 

  “It is absolutely critical that Prince Georgians have access to quality health care, not only to receive potentially lifesaving treatment when they fall ill but to receive preventative care that will allow them to lead a healthy and productive life,” said Alsobrooks.  “That’s why I am urging every resident to get covered and see their primary care provider so that we can be stronger as a community.”

 Most uninsured Maryland residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years old are eligible for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  In fact, one out of five residents receives tax credits, which help to lower insurance premiums. 

 County resident Marion Hill, who is recently unemployed, says she is excited to get covered through Maryland Health Connection. “My daughter and I have always had health insurance and with my benefits coming to an end, I was faced with the decision to get insurance. It overwhelmed me,” said Hill. “I am so grateful that a friend steered me to an enrollment center. What was especially comforting to know was that I was instantly covered.”

Prince George’s County Health Connect, a program of the Department of Social Services (DSS), will support residents seeking in-person assistance.  Bi-lingual navigators are available at all of the DSS sites in Hyattsville, Temple Hills, and Landover; as well as two storefront locations, at La Union Mall in Langley Park, and Hampton Mall, in Capitol Heights.    For a complete listing of locations and hours of operation, visitwww.pgchealthconnect.org/gethelp  or call (301) 927-4500.

County Executive Urges Prince Georgians to “Get Covered Now”

November kicks off the open enrollment period for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, urges all uninsured and underinsured residents who are 18 to 64 sign-up for coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The open enrollment period ends on December 15, 2018. To apply, visit www.marylandhealthconnection.gov or call 301-927-4500.

“Prince George’s County continues to make great strides in enrolling residents in health insurance,” said County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. “From the time the Affordable Care Act began, we have reduced the number of uninsured residents from 15% to 9%. It is vitally important for every single person who is eligible to get covered and stay covered. Now is the time.”

Prince George’s County Health Connect, a program of the Department of Social Services, is recognized as one of the strongest in Maryland. Since 2013, the comprehensive program has partnered with government agencies, non-profit healthcare and community-based organizations, academic institutions, hospitals, clinics, and faith-based institutions resulting in the following:

  • Increases in the number of insured Prince George’s County residents. More than 240,000 have enrolled in Medicaid and the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), an increase of 33% since the Affordable Care Act implementation began. An additional 22,400 residents are enrolled into Qualified Health Plans (QHPs), the private coverage that provides subsidies for most families.
  • Increases in Health Connect enrollment assistance requests. More than 100,000 Prince George’s County residents have been provided in-person Health Connect enrollment assistance.
  • Increases in insurance coverage resulting in a decrease in the number of people who delay needed health care due to cost.
  • Increases in insurance coverage provides greater financial stability to families; and realizes significant savings in uncompensated hospital care.
  • Increases in growth and enrollment reduced long-standing inequities regarding access to affordable health coverage: African-American, Hispanic or Latino, and Asian-American residents had the largest gains in coverage.

While the federal government has eliminated the 2019 tax penalty for being without health coverage, it is important that residents get and maintain their coverage to reach their optimum level of health. All residents of Prince George’s County are encouraged to find out if they are eligible to achieve savings on their coverage. In person assistance is available in several locations across the County. To learn more visit www.pgchealthconnect.org/gethelp or call 301-927-4500.

Browse 2019 health insurance plans and prices now!

Get covered for 2019!

Plans and prices ready to view at MarylandHealthConnection.gov.

Did you know 9 out of 10 people who enrolled through Maryland Health Connection this year received financial help? And, most 2019 plan prices are lower.

Check out MarylandHealthConnection.gov. It’s your one-stop shop for comparing health plans and prices. Already covered?  Plans and prices change every year, so it pays to shop around. Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2019.

Navigate Our Health Insurance Assistance Network

health insurance helpYou finally get a break for lunch, and a server hands you a menu the size of a dictionary. So many options. What’s the difference between a starter and an appetizer? Decisions, decisions. Just as you feel overwhelmed with food options, you may feel like you’re drowning in the  choices you must make about your health insurance. Let’s alleviate some of that stress right now. Start with Maryland Health Connection, the only place you can receive financial help with your health plan.

Health insurance, like life, is complicated. It’s no wonder you need help choosing a plan and understanding the lingo. Fortunately, Maryland Health Connection has experts throughout the state to help. What are the differences between those places? How do you know they’re affiliated with Maryland Health Connection? Where can you go with a question if you’ve already enrolled in a plan? Here, we’ll break it down for you so you know where to go to find a real person with real answers.

Consumer assistance organizations

Maryland Health Connection’s consumer assistance organizations have staff in every county to provide free, in-person assistance to help you determine if you qualify to get lower costs for a private health plan, or if you qualify for free health coverage through Medicaid.

Our  team of navigators work for these consumer assistance organizations. Navigators can help you navigate the application process. Makes sense, right? They can help you apply for health insurance and answer your questions. However, you will have to be the one to choose which plan you’d like. Click here to see a few videos of navigators in Maryland answering some common questions.

The consumer assistance organizations in Maryland that partner with us are HealthCare Access Maryland, Seedco, Western Maryland Health Insurance Connector (AHEC West), Prince George’s County Health Connect, Montgomery County Health Connection, and Lower Shore Health Insurance Assistance Program. You can find the regions each of these organizations cover on the map below.

navigators

To see a contact list for these regions, click here.

Authorized insurance brokers

Authorized insurance brokers are different than consumer assistance organizations in that they can help you choose an insurance company and health plan that meet the needs of you and your family, and help enrollees with any administrative problems. Like our other partners, help from them is free.

Certified application counselors (CACs)

CACs are trained counselors certified by Maryland Health Connection who provide free, in-person help with your application. They work for community-based organizations, health care providers, units of state or local government, and other entities authorized by Maryland Health Connection. We call these companies Application Counselor Sponsoring Entities (ACSE). For a list of organizations that have CACs, please click here.

Local health departments

Did you know you can sign up for Medicaid year-round? Your local health department and department of social services have representatives who can help you with your health insurance. Pregnant women are encouraged to apply at local health departments.

Consumer support center (call center)

You can call us with questions or issues with your online application, and one of our representatives can assist you. The toll-free phone number is 1-855-642-8572
(TTY: 1-855-642-8573).

Our consumer support center offers assistance in more than 200 languages, as well as TTY services for the deaf and hard of hearing. Hours: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Want more information on how to get help? Head to https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/find-help.

About Maryland Health Connection

Maryland Health Connection is Maryland’s official health insurance marketplace for individuals and families to compare plans and enroll in health and dental coverage. It’s the only place to get financial help with health insurance. See if you qualify for financial help like tax credits or Medicaid/MCHP to make health insurance more affordable.

Visit MarylandHealthConnection.gov to enroll, or download our free Enroll MHC mobile app for Android and iPhone.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

How Do I Make The Most Of My Health Plan?

Essential health benefits

All plans offered on Maryland Health Connection, both private plans and Medicaid, cover Essential Health Benefits (EHBs). These benefits include hospitalizations, doctor visits, prescription drugs, maternity and newborn care. Other EHBs include emergency care, pediatric care including dental and vision benefits, and lab tests. All health insurance plans cover preventive and wellness care at no extra cost to you, including: flu and pneumonia shots, birth control, routine vaccinations and screenings for cancer, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.

You do not have to meet your plan’s deductible before getting preventive health care. That means you can take care of your health now without having to pay any extra costs.

Did you know plans cover these additional services?

Behavioral and mental health services are covered by health plans. It’s important to know you can’t be denied coverage or charged more because you have a pre-existing condition, including mental and behavioral health conditions.

Preventive screenings are included, such depression screenings for adults and behavioral assessments for children.

 

Other services plans cover include:

 

  • Rehabilitation
  • Habilitative services and devices (services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)
  • Chronic disease management
  • Breastfeeding support, counseling, and equipment for the duration of breastfeeding
  • See other preventive care benefits here

Now that you’re enrolled in a plan, your insurance company will or has already sent you a Summary of Plan Benefits that should be used as a reference to see what benefits are covered by your plan. You may contact the insurance carrier for clarification of the coverage provided by your plan if you need further guidance.

This Friday is the final deadline

3 things you need to know today:

There are just a few days left to get a 2018 health or dental plan. If you haven’t signed up yet, here are 3 things you need to know:

1. This really is your last chance to enroll for 2018 coverage. Open enrollment does not extend into January as in past years.

2. If you’re already enrolled, shop again and you may find a better plan that costs less. In fact, many people who were in a Silver plan in 2017 can switch to a more comprehensive Gold plan and actually pay less.

It’s especially important this year to compare plans and benefits to be sure you’re getting the best deal. Check out 2018 plans and prices now.

3. We can help you apply and understand your options. We have consumer assistance organizations throughout Maryland and hundreds of insurance brokers who can help you enroll. Search here for free help near you.

REMINDER: This deadline is for private 2018 health and dental plans. If you’re enrolled in Medicaid, you don’t need to take any action right now unless you’ve received a notice telling you to renew coverage.

OPEN ENROLLMENT EXTENDED UNTIL DEC. 22 ONE WEEK ADDED TO ENROLL IN 2018 HEALTH, DENTAL COVERAGE

Open enrollment through Maryland Health Connection has been extended until Friday, Dec. 22 to choose a plan for health coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2018, with expanded call center hours through next week.

Individuals can apply at MarylandHealthConnection.gov or through the “Enroll MHC” mobile app available free in the App Store (iOS) and the Google Play Store (Android).

Also, hundreds of insurance brokers and navigators around the state can help Marylanders apply for financial help and enroll in a plan. Their locations and contact information are available at MarylandHealthConnection.gov or through a GPS-enabled locator tool on the app.

Marylanders may enroll by phone toll-free at 1-855-642-8572 (TTY: 1-855-642-8573) as well. Maryland Health Connection offers assistance in more than 200 languages, as well as TTY services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

For the coming week, the call center will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. today through Friday, Dec. 15; from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16; from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17; and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18 through Friday, Dec. 22, the final day of open enrollment for 2018 coverage.

“While enrollments have been very strong so far this year, we want to ensure that everyone in Maryland in need of 2018 health coverage has additional time to shop and enroll,” said Dr. Howard S. Haft, interim executive director for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, which administers Maryland Health Connection.

“We thank our partner insurance carriers and our army of consumer assisters at this busy time for helping us add an extra week to open enrollment,” said Michele S. Eberle, chief operating officer who will begin next Monday as the new executive director for MHBE.

 

Prince George’s County Residents Urged to Sign Up For Health Coverage During Open Enrollment

Landover, MD — Open enrollment for 2018 health insurance under the Affordable Care Act begins November 1 and ends December 15, 2017. Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III today urged residents who are un-insured or are underinsured to take advantage of the upcoming health enrollment period and enroll into a health plan.

“This is an extraordinary time. Over the last several months, we have seen numerous attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The recent Executive Order threatens the stability of the marketplace and may cause residents with affordable health coverage to lose their tax credits and eligibility for cost sharing reductions. While the Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land, with each attempt to attack the Affordable Care Act, we have come to see how vital it is to have access to health care, now! Without coverage, there is no clear pathway to prevention, wellness and improving health outcomes. I urge all Prince Georgians who are not covered, please get coverage now. This is the time,” said County Executive Baker.

Since the start of the Affordable Care Act in 2013, Prince George’s County has reduced the uninsured rate from approximately 15%% to slightly below 9%. It is estimated that as many as 78,000 residents remain uninsured. While many of the uninsured are not eligible to enroll in the State’s insurance marketplace, due to their immigration status, there are an estimated 30,000 or more residents who likely are eligible for a plan that fits their budget and meets their needs.

Prince George’s County Health Connect, a program of the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, is funded by Maryland Health Connection, the State of Maryland’s health insurance marketplace. One of eight connector programs in Maryland, Prince George’s County Health Connect is helping residents, Get Covered, Get Seen and Get Healthy! This effort goes beyond enrollment in health coverage to educate everyone on the importance of establishing a relationship with a primary care provider and using their coverage appropriately.

According to Gloria Brown Burnett, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, “The lack of adequate health coverage is one of the key social determinants of health. The opportunity to remove this barrier significantly enhances residents’ ability to improve their health status. The Department of Social Services recognizes how important it is to help strengthen our families; and to do that, barriers must be removed,” said Brown Burnett.

Managed by the Department of Social Services, Prince George’s County Health Connect provides trained, certified, bilingual navigators, who offer free, one-on-one consumer assistance with health insurance enrollment. Currently, nine out of 10 Marylanders, qualify for subsidies and discounts.

Prince George’s County Health Connect experts are located at all Department of Social Services sites; at two storefront locations, including the Hampton Mall in Capitol Heights, LaUnion Mall in Langley Park; and at two community-based organizations, CASA and Sowing Empowerment & Economic Development, Inc. (SEED), in Prince George’s County. The program also works with Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), based in the Health Department.

For information on the locations, hours of operation at enrollment sites, or to schedule a free appointment to see a navigator, call the Prince George’s County Health Connect Call Center at (301) 927-4500; or visit, www.pgchealthconnect.org.

Updates to 2018 Plans: What New Rates Mean for Shopping Now

We want to make sure you heard about a recent change to our plans and rates. It’s more important than ever to come back to browse plan prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal for you and your family.

Open enrollment begins November 1, but you don’t have to wait to browse plans: Come back now to MarylandHealthConnection.gov or our mobile app to see new prices on some plans that changed October 26, and get an updated estimate of financial help to lower your costs.

Why did some plan costs change? Before now, Silver-level plans sold through the marketplace received funding from the federal government to keep costs down for lower income enrollees for out-of-pocket expenses such as deductibles and copays. However, as of Oct. 12, the government has stopped making these “cost-sharing reduction” payments to the insurance companies, so the Maryland Insurance Administration has permitted an increase in premiums for these plans. The cost remains unchanged for other plan levels offered through the marketplace.

However, most Marylanders receiving financial help will not see an increase in their monthly costs. This is because more than 85% of our Silver plan enrollees (whose plan rates will change for 2018) also qualify for financial help in the form of an advance premium tax credit, which will increase to make up the cost difference. In fact, some people who previously would not have qualified for financial help will now qualify for a tax credit to help lower their costs.

These changes make it especially important to come back to MarylandHealthConnection.gov this year, even if you have already looked at plans and prices. If you’re currently enrolled, check your mail or account inbox for a notice this week explaining any changes to your 2018 plan and financial help. During open enrollment you should shop again to be sure you’ve selected a plan for 2018 that best fits your needs and budget.

If you’re not yet covered, open enrollment is November 1 to December 15 to sign up for 2018 health or dental plans. You may be surprised to find you qualify for savings, just like 9 out of 10 people who enrolled through us.

Need help understanding your options? We have thousands of experts throughout Maryland who can help you choose the a plan for 2018 and get the best deal. Find free, in-person help near you.

For assistance in Prince George’s County visit the Get Help tab on this site or call 301-927-4500.

Financial help reduces 2018 plan costs below last year’s prices for many

The savings that many Marylanders qualify for will lower their health insurance payment in 2018 to below the previous year’s prices, offsetting this year’s premium increases for those enrollees. The savings could be substantial, ranging from $10 or $20 a month for a single young adult to $500 or more for a family of four depending on the plan chosen.

It’s important that Marylanders in need of health coverage check out their options through MarylandHealthConnection.gov and see what help they may get, rather than be deterred by headlines about rate increases.

More than three-quarters of people enrolled in qualified (private) health plans through Maryland Health Connection qualify for financial help in the form of federal tax credits that can reduce the monthly payment for health insurance, which is known as the “premium.”

The premium for many plans increased from 2017 to 2018 after rate increases requested by Maryland’s insurance carriers were approved by the Maryland Insurance Administration.

However, for many people who qualify for financial help, the cost of the plan after the tax credit is applied actually lowers the monthly bill for 2018 to less than the same plan would have cost in 2017. Household size and income and some other factors affect whether a family is eligible for lower costs.

For example, the lowest-cost Silver plan in Maryland for a 21-year-old in Maryland increased from $242/month in 2017 to $292 in 2018. However, after tax credits, that same person with a an annual income of $25,000 would pay out of their own pocket $142 for the plan in 2017, but only $127 in 2018 — a decrease of $15/month.

A family shopping for health coverage with household members age 60, 55, 24 and 19, and an annual income of $53,000 would have paid about $469/month in 2017 for the lowest-cost Silver plan after the tax credit was applied to their premium. In 2018, that plan would cost the family about $236 after the tax credit, a decrease of 50 percent.

Lowest-cost Silver Plan (in Baltimore and Washington D.C. Metro Areas)
Household Members by Age Total Household Income 2017
Before Tax Credit		 2017
After Tax Credit		 2018
Before Tax Credit		 2018
After Tax Credit		 Monthly Savings for 2018 Compared to 2017
21 $25,000 $242 $142 $292 $127 $15
64 $36,000 $726 $292 $877 $255 $37
60, 55, 24, 19 $53,000 $1,592 $469 $2,012 $233 $236
40, 38, 16, 14, 8 $60,000 $611 $342 $738 $305 $37
40, 38 $32,000 $611 $173 $738 $139 $33

More than half of exchange enrollees also receive “cost-sharing reductions” that apply toward their costs for health care services, such as lower deductibles and copays, thanks to subsidies paid to their health insurance companies that pay for these discounts. These additional savings increased by several dollars per month (in some cases nearly $28/month) for consumers who qualify and choose a Silver plan.

For Marylanders whose plan cost increased for 2018, or who don’t qualify for financial help, it’s especially important to come back to Maryland Health Connection during open enrollment to shop for a new plan.

Starting October 1, Marylanders can browse new plans and prices at MarylandHealthConnection.gov, and during open enrollment from November 1 to December 15 can update their information and make changes for 2018. It’s important to update your application with any changes in your household or income, as you may qualify for more financial help next year.

Current private-plan enrollees should visit www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/renewal for more information on what to expect during this year’s open enrollment, and tips on deciding whether to stay in your current plan or choose a new one.

Free help to understand your 2018 options is available through our trained staff is available at several locations across Prince George’s County.   Visit the Get Help page on this site.