FAQs about MD Plan

What is MdCare?

An independent, quasi-public, health insurer that is accountable to its enrollees, providers and the general public.  Clinicians will provide services directly (not through managed care companies).  In addition to processing claims, MdCare will offer care management, quality improvement, and cost containment services to its enrollees and providers.

What does the MdCare benefits package cover? 

In addition to benefits covered by most private health insurers (e.g., inpatient and outpatient care), MdCare will cover:  preventive services; prescription drugs; preventive dental services and partial coverage for corrective dental services; mental health services at parity with physical health services; inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment;  smoking cessation services; & hearing aids.

What will MdCare cost enrollees?

Enrollees who make less than $17,720 (single adult), $23,880 (couple) or $30,040 (family) will pay nothing.  The per person adult premiums for higher incomes range from 1.75% to 2.5% of family income.  Anyone making over $31,010 (single adult), $41,790 (couple) or $52,570 (family) cannot enroll in MdCare.

What is MCHP?

The Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program currently provides comprehensive care to over 100,000 children in Maryland.   Under our plan, all Marylandchildren and their parents can enroll in MCHP.  Premiums for participation increase as family income increases up to the whole cost of the policy.  for more information, see

http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mchp/

What is the Small Group Market?

For the past nine years, the small group market has given small employers the opportunity to offer quality, affordable health care to their employees.   Under our plan, the benefits of this market including group purchasing power and market protections will be available to all families in Maryland.   For more information on the plan (pre-expansion), for more information see

http://www.mhcc.state.md.us/smgrpmkt/cshbp_brochure.htm

How will we pay for Health Care for All? 

Our plan will cost $637 million annually ($28 M in buffer and startup costs).  There will be no net increase in state general fund spending and we will not create large, new bureaucracies to service all the uninsured.  The overall plan is completely funded by the following:

Charging fair premiums to those newly insured ($63 M)

Reallocating funds from existing programs for the uninsured ($212 M)

Increasing the state tobacco tax by $0.50 per pack ($100 M)

Collecting health care contributions from employers who do not provide health insurance ($290 M)

In addition, we will maximize matching funds from the federal government and capitalize on savings from our prescription drug buying pool and MdCare’s lower administrative overhead to help fund the plan.

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