Delegate looks to mandate health insurance at certain income levels

Del. Donald Elliott (R-New Windsor) is the primary sponsor of House Bill 737, The Health Care Coverage - Personal Responsibility Act, which would require individuals who earn $50,000 or more and households earning at least $100,000 to buy health insurance.

“There are a significant number of people who can afford insurance and should have it,” Elliott said during an interview with PolitickerMD.com.

The bill would impose a fine of $1,000 per individual and $2,000 per couple for those who do not buy health insurance and meet the bill’s income mark.

Elliott said those fees will “go into a fund,” which will assist employers in the purchase of health insurance for their employees. The delegate said this would help single employees and couples who make under $50,000 or $100,000, though specific language increasing coverage for lower-income residents is not included in the bill. The legislation would also expand Medicaid coverage.

The bill includes exceptions, and will not require those who have been unemployed for at least a month to pay the fine. It also excludes residents who have recently moved to Maryland or just gained employment, as well as those who object on religious grounds.

The delegate also referred to Maryland's uncompensated care system, which he said was a key factor in his decision to introduce the bill. Under the current process, hospitals are allowed to charge more money to citizens who have insurance as a way  to balance those who are given medical care but don’t have the insurance to pay for the treatment. Thus, insurance rates increase.

Yesterday, the Health and Government Operations Committee, which Elliott serves on, held a hearing in regards to the bill. There were several co-sponsors of the legislation, including committee Chair Peter Hammen (D-Baltimore).

The chairman could not be reached for comment this afternoon, but his office said a vote on the legislation had not been scheduled.

Elliott said he was confident that he could push the legislation through the committee and House of Delegates, but said he was not as confident about its passage in the Senate.

He did not elaborate, saying only, “We’ll have to see if it passes.”

“There are a number of people who feel very strongly about this concept,” he added.

The state has an estimated 800,000 residents who do not have health insurance. Elliott said he had been informed by the Maryland Health Care Commission that an estimated 114,000 additional people would gain access to health care if the bill becomes law.