Signed by Governor Larry Hogan, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes an opt-in health insurance check box on tax forms, effective June 1, 2019.

Highlights:

• Defines “insurance affordability program” as (Sec. 1):

• The Maryland Medical Assistance Program;

• The Maryland Children’s Health Program;

• Premium Tax Credits; or

• Cost-Sharing Reductions.

• Repeals the Maryland Health Insurance Option and establishes the Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the purposes of the Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program are to (Sec. 1):

• Establish a reporting system through income tax return forms to identify uninsured individuals and determine interest in obtaining coverage;

• Determine uninsured individuals’ eligibility for an insurance affordability program;

• Proactively contact interested uninsured individuals to assist in enrolling in an insurance affordability program; and

• Maximize enrollment of eligible uninsured individuals in insurance affordability programs.

• Specifies that operation of the program must start on or before January 1, 2020, and be available for tax returns for years beginning after 2018 (Sec. 1). 

• Establishes a Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program Advisory Workgroup to provide advice regarding the implementation of the program (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Department of Health to determine eligibility for insurance affordability programs as soon as possible after an individual files a tax return on which they indicate interest in obtaining coverage (Sec. 1). 

• Requires non-citizens to provide affirmative consent prior to being enrolled in any insurance affordability program (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the determination of eligibility for the Maryland Medical Assistance Program or the Maryland Children’s Health Program prior to the determination of eligibility for any other insurance affordability program (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the determination of eligibility for premium tax credits or cost-sharing reductions if an individual is not determined to be eligible for either of the first 2 programs examined (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to develop data privacy and security safeguards for the program (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Comptroller to include a checkoff on individual income tax return forms to indicate if the individual, their spouse, or any dependent is uninsured (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Comptroller to include a separate form for uninsured individuals which is meant to determine their eligibility for insurance affordability programs (Sec. 1). 

• Specifies that the separate form must include the option for an individual to opt out of determination for insurance affordability programs (Sec. 1). 

• Authorizes the Comptroller to delay the implementation of this section, based on feasibility, to taxable years beginning after 2019 (Sec. 1). 

Full Bill Text