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MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

In June 2011, the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange was created as a public corporation and an independent unit of State government (Chapters 1 & 2, Acts of 2011; Code Insurance Article, secs. 31-101 through 31-111). The Exchange was created to meet federal requirements, and to reduce the number of Maryland residents who have no health insurance. The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-152) requires each state to establish a health benefit exchange by January 1, 2014 or choose one run by the federal government. Maryland chose to operate its own exchange and received conditional federal approval of its marketplace governance and structure in December 2012.

To provide Marylanders with high quality, affordable private health plans at competitive prices, the Exchange is creating an on-line marketplace, the Maryland Health Connection, which will help individuals purchase and companies sell qualified health plans in the individual insurance market. It also will assist qualified employers in enrolling their employees in qualified health plans in the small group market; and administer tax credits for individuals and small businesses.

The Exchange must operate a toll-free hotline; maintain a website with comprehensive information on qualified health plans; provide an electronic calculator that can compute the actual cost of coverage, factoring in all variables, such as tax credits and cost-sharing; and establish a Navigator program that provides grants to entities assisting consumers.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees. Six of the Board's members are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms, and three serve ex officio. With the approval of the Governor, the Board appoints the Executive Director (Code Insurance Article, secs. 3-104, 3-105).

On December 23, 2011, the Board of Trustees of the Exchange submitted recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on the potential structure and functions of the Exchange.

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