The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) announced a series of public hearings on state reinsurance regulations. The purpose of the reinsurance program is to hold down consumer cost and bring greater certainty to Maryland’s individual health insurance market for plan years 2019 through 2023.  If approved by the federal government, the program is expected to reduce premium increases for plans purchased in the individual health insurance market both on and off Maryland Health Connection, the state-based marketplace.  The hearings will be used to gather public input on how to shape pending regulations that would implement legislation enacted this spring.  The hearing dates are:

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

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 August 4.  More information on the federal review is available online.

Proposed 2019 increases for some Carefirst and Kaiser individual plans are particularly concerning.  Public comments are being accepted until 5 PM on Wednesday, August 15—email healthinsuranceratereview.mia@maryland.gov.