A service of Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Health Care. Women of Color Get It September 8, 2012

What is a Health Insurance Exchange? What is the Maryland Health Connection? Maryland Snapshot: Diversity and the Uninsured Ways to Get Involved Now! Topics

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires each state to establish a “health insurance exchange” by Maryland is creating its exchange to be an accessible and competitive marketplace for Marylanders to search for and enroll in affordable health insurance plans as well as determine eligibility for Medicaid and federal tax credits. What is a Health Insurance Exchange? 3

The Maryland Health Connection is the new name for Maryland’s health insurance exchange. The Maryland Health Connection is a marketplace where individuals, families and small businesses can: –Compare health insurance options –Calculate total out-of-pocket costs based on eligible subsidies or tax credits –Enroll in the health plan that’s best suited for their needs What is the Maryland Health Connection? 4

The State will use a “no wrong door” approach to help Marylanders determine eligibility for no cost and low cost health insurance –Medicaid –Commercial Plans The Maryland Health Connection will provide online, in person or over the phone assistance for Marylanders to get enrolled. –Open Enrollment begins October 2013 What is the Maryland Health Connection? 5

Why is this important to Maryland? Increases Access to Coverage Expands access to health insurance for the 730,000 Marylanders who are currently without health insurance. –Guaranteed Issue/Community Rating –147,000 enrollees expected in the first year Establishes a core set of benefits that are “essential” for every health insurance plan offered in Maryland. Establishes requirements for “qualified plans” The Maryland Health Connection

Why is this important to Maryland? Increases Access to Care Gives Marylanders access to primary care physicians, preventive services. Ensures “Essential Community Providers” are included. The Maryland Health Connection

Why is this important to Maryland? Improves Affordability Provides federal subsidies and tax credits for individuals up to 400% of FPL to help pay for health insurance premiums Lowers uncompensated care costs in the healthcare system resulting in lower insurance premiums across the state The Maryland Health Connection

Why is this important to Maryland? Creates New Jobs and Reduces Budget The Hilltop Institute conducted a study on the economic impact of health care reform in Maryland in July New Employment9,12226,970 Decrease in State Budget $58M$600M (Overall) The Maryland Health Connection

Maryland Snapshot: Diversity and the Uninsured 10

Basic Demographics Income and Poverty Statistics Employment Statistics Insurance Statistics Uninsured Statistics One Size Does NOT Fit All! 11 Maryland Snapshot

12 Maryland Demographics Maryland has 5,773,552 residents, with 96% living in metropolitan areas. Two-thirds of the population is under 45 years old, one-third is 45 or older. A quarter of the population is under 18. Nearly three in ten residents are Black, six in ten are White and almost one in ten are Hispanic. The majority of residents, 88%, have a high school education, 36% have a bachelors degree and 16% have an advanced degree. Half of the population is married, one-third has never been married, and one- fifth is now widowed, divorced or separated. Nearly Half of households are husband-wife families, only 5% are male households (no wife) but 15% are female households (no husband), the final third are non-family households.

13 Uninsured Population Mean or Median Income: $36,422 Insured 87% Uninsured 13% Age Distribution of Uninsured Gender Distribution of Uninsured Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2010) Maryland Insurance Statistics

14 Maryland Insurance Statistics Males are a bit more likely than females to be uninsured. 57% of the uninsured population are males and 43% are females. In particular, males between the ages of are most likely to be uninsured, making up 31% of the uninsured population. One-quarter of 18 to 25 year-olds of any gender are uninsured, compared with two-tenths of those 25 to 64 and only 3% of those 65 or older. Whites and Blacks make up a similar proportion of the uninsured. Each group represents one-third of the uninsured population. One-quarter of the uninsured are Hispanic and the final 6% are another race/ethnicity. Low income families are more likely than higher-income families to be uninsured. Families with an income below $29,888 are 40% of the uninsured population. Those making between $29,888 and $59,680 are another 30% of the uninsured Maryland population.

Establishing Advisory Committees that reflect the racial, ethnic and geographic diversity of Maryland. Policy Development & Implementation Developing strategies that reach diverse populations. Using plain language standards, multi-lingual and linguistically appropriate communications. Ensuring culturally sensitive educational materials. Outreach Program Leveraging navigators, producers and call center staff to help consumers understand coverage options. Ensuring cultural competence of these consumer assistance resources. Consumer Assistance Capturing information on individuals at enrollment. Ensuring insurance companies report on race, ethnicity, language, interpreter needs of enrollees and cultural competence activities of staff and providers. Data Collection & Reporting Addressing Diversity within the Uninsured Population 15

Maryland was one of four states to receive a Level Two Establishment Grant on August 23 rd, –$123 Million was awarded to Maryland Federal Certification: Q Testing/Demonstrations: Q through Q Outreach & Education: Q Open Enrollment: October 2013 Benefit Coverage Begins: January 2014 What’s Next for the Maryland Health Connection 16 1 Cooperative Agreement to Support Establishment of State-Operated Health Insurance Exchange (93.525)

Ways to Get Involved Now! 17

Advisory Committees: –Navigator Program –Plan Management –Continuity of Care –Financial Sustainability Visit to learn more about the state-based exchange and upcoming news Consider becoming a Navigator in 2013 and connecting uninsured Marylanders to health coverage! Ways to Get Involved Now: 18

Sign Up for Updates Sign Up for Text Updates: Text “Connected” to Get information on resources available to help now Link to details on meetings and reports 19

For questions on the information contained in this presentation, please contact: Tequila Terry Director, Plan & Partner Management Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Phone: Thank you! 20