Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that specifies operation procedures for and implementation of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.

Highlights:

Expands the states implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to include parents and caretaker relatives who have a dependent child living in their home and adults who do not meet requirements for Medicaid and who are not enrolled in the federal Medicare program (Sec. 1).

Requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide medical care and other health care services for individuals who meet the following criteria, effective January 1, 2014 (Sec. 1):

• An individual whose annual household income is at or below 133 percent of the poverty level;
• An individual that is not enrolled in Medicare; or
• An individual who does not meet requirements for a federal category eligible for Medicaid.

Requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide comprehensive medical care services for all children between the ages of 6 and 19 whose family income falls below 133 percent of the poverty level, effective January 1, 2014 (Sec. 1).

Requires the Maryland Health Insurance Plan, beginning October 1, 2013, to provide its members with the following information (Sec. 2):

• An individual may not be denied health insurance due to a pre-existing condition;
• An individual may be eligible to enroll in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program;
• An individual may be eligible to purchase health insurance from the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange or private insurance providers; and
• An individual may be eligible to receive federal assistance to purchase health insurance from the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.

Requires enrollment for the Maryland Health Insurance Plan to end December 31, 2013 (Sec. 2).

Specifies that the last day of coverage for members under the Maryland Health Insurance Plan will be between January 1, 2014, and January 1, 2020 (Sec. 2).

Requires the Maryland Health Insurance Plan to report to the governor and general assembly how members will be transitioned out of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan, including the following information (Sec. 2):

• How members are made aware of changes to their insurance options;
• How members will be assisted through the transition; and
• How much funding, if any, is needed for the transition. 

Requires the funds from the existing 2 percent health insurance premium tax to be distributed annually to the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Fund for the fund’s operation and administration (Sec. 2).

Specifies that the following entities are not subject to insurance taxation (Sec. 2):

• A nonprofit health service plan corporation;
• A fraternal benefit society;
• A surplus lines broker;
• An unauthorized insurer;
• The Maryland Health Insurance Plan;
• The Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program;
• A nonprofit health maintenance organization; and
• A qualified nonprofit health insurance issuer established by the Affordable Care Act.

Full Bill Text