MHBE ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR STATE REINSURANCE REGULATIONS

Good afternoon, 

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) announced yesterday that it will hold a series of public hearings on state reinsurance regulations. The hearings will be used to gather public input on how to shape pending regulations for the reinsurance program for the individual health insurance market. The purpose of the program is to hold down consumer cost and bring greater certainty to Maryland’s individual health insurance market for plan years 2019 through 2023. 

The public hearings will be held:

• July 26, 2-4 p.m., MHBE, 750 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202
• Aug. 2, 2-4 p.m., MHBE, 750 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202
• Aug. 9, 1-3 p.m., Maryland Department of  Transportation, 7201 Corporate Center Drive, Hanover, MD 21076
• Aug. 16, 2-4 p.m., MHBE, 750 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD 21202 

Gov. Larry Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly approved legislation this past spring to create a reinsurance program for the individual health insurance market beginning in 2019.  If approved by the federal government, the program is expected to reduce premium increases for plans purchased for 2019 in the individual health insurance market both on and off Maryland Health Connection, the state-based marketplace. 

At its meeting yesterday, the MHBE Board of Trustees voted to authorize the agency’s staff to proceed with developing regulations to structure the reinsurance program with analysis from the Maryland Insurance Administration and by Wakely Consulting Group. 

• Interested parties may send written comments to  mhbe.publiccomments@maryland.gov.
• More information on the state reinsurance program is available at MarylandHBE.com 

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Treasury announced they had accepted Maryland’s application to create a reinsurance program. The federal government is accepting public comment on Maryland’s application through Aug. 4. 

• More information on the federal review is available online at cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/State-Innovation-Waivers/Section_1332_State_Innovation_Waivers-.html