Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

For far too long, America's health insurance system has been too costly, inaccessible and inefficient for families and small businesses. Congressman Hoyer fought for enactment of critical insurance reforms that will put patients -- not insurance companies -- in control of their health care, while ensuring that the U.S. health care system continues to be the best in the world.

The new law increases market-based competition to help bring down costs, ends the practice of denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, and bans annual and lifetime limits on health coverage benefits. It enables parents to keep their children on their health care plans until they are 26 and makes small businesses eligible for tax credits that make employee coverage more affordable. The law strengthens Medicare -- extending its solvency by 10 years -- eliminates co-pays for preventive services and makes prescription coverage for seniors more affordable.

The law will also result in 31 million American citizens accessing affordable health insurance. Beginning October 1, Marylanders looking for health coverage can shop for insurance through a new online Marketplace called the Maryland Health Connection. Maryland consumers can visit www.marylandhealthconnection.com to shop, compare, and enroll in a plan that best meets their needs. While visiting this online Marketplace, consumers can check their eligibility for tax credits and for public health programs. Open enrollment runs through March 31, 2013; and if consumers enroll by December 18th, coverage will begin on January 1st. Through the launch of the Maryland Health Connection and our state's expansion of Medicaid, 280,000 Marylanders are expected to gain health coverage next year.

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