The Maryland Health Connection (administered by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange) is the

health insurance marketplace In the United States, health insurance marketplaces, also called health exchanges, are organizations in each state through which people can purchase health insurance. People can purchase health insurance that complies with the Patient Protection ...

in the U.S. state of

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, created in accordance with the

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Presi ...

. The marketplace is offered to individuals and families who are not covered through their employers. It allows enrollees to compare health insurance plans and provides those who qualify with access to tax credits. It also provides access to

Medicaid Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with healthcare costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and pers ...

enrollment for low-income Marylanders. Enrollment started on October 1, 2013. As of the 2019 calendar year, 156,963 people were enrolled in private health plans, 39,720 people were enrolled in stand-alone dental plans, and 1,076,175 people were enrolled in Medicaid through Maryland Health Connection. Maryland Health Connection opened two emergency special enrollment periods for Marylanders who needed health insurance during the

COVID-19 pandemic in the United States The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States is a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In the Uni ...

. Maryland had the longest special enrollment period of all U.S. states in 2020. The first special enrollment period ran from March 16, 2020, until July 15, 2020, and more than 54,000 people enrolled in health coverage. The second special enrollment period was announced on August 7, 2020, and is intended to run until December 15, 2020.

Staff

Michele S. Eberle has been the executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange since 2017. Eberle was previously the exchange's chief operating officer since 2015.

References

External links

Maryland Health Connection

Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

Healthcare in Maryland Healthcare reform in Maryland Health Connection 2013 establishments in Maryland {{insurance-stub