| Due to increased medical costs, rising | | | | on "Health Care Programs," then click on |
| malpractice insurance rates, and increased | | | | "Medicaid and Health Insurance Programs." |
| longevity rates, health insurance premiums | | | | |
| have doubled in the last few years. But you | | | | Private Health Insurance Programs |
| can still get a cheap rate on Maryland health | | | | |
| insurance if you know how. | | | | If you're not eligible for any of Maryland's |
| | | | state health insurance programs, you can |
| Government Health Insurance Programs | | | | still get inexpensive health insurance |
| | | | through a private carrier. |
| Maryland offers a number of government | | | | |
| sponsored health insurance programs. | | | | With private health insurance you have two |
| Depending on your level of eligibility, these | | | | basic types of plans - indemnity plans and |
| programs are either very cheap or cost | | | | managed health care plans. Indemnity plans |
| nothing at all. These programs include: | | | | let you choose your own doctors and |
| | | | hospitals, but they are much more expensive |
| * Maryland's Medical Assistance Program | | | | than managed health care plans. Managed |
| (Medicaid) for low-income families, children, | | | | health care plans assign you to a network of |
| pregnant women, women with breast or cervical | | | | doctors and hospitals you must use for your |
| cancer, the elderly, and people who are blind | | | | medical needs, and are the cheapest health |
| or disabled. | | | | care plans. |
| | | | |
| * Maryland's Children's Health Program (MCHP) | | | | Inexpensive Health Care Plans |
| for uninsured children under the age of 19 | | | | |
| whose family's income is less than 200% of | | | | To get the best rate on a health insurance |
| the federal poverty level. | | | | plan you have to compare rates from a number |
| | | | of different insurance companies. Thanks to |
| * Maryland's Children's Health Program | | | | the Internet and the advent of insurance |
| Premium (MCHP) for uninsured children under | | | | comparison websites, it only takes a few |
| the age of 19 whose family's income is more | | | | minutes to get health insurance quotes you |
| than 200% but less than 300% of the federal | | | | can compare in order to get a cheap rate. |
| poverty level. | | | | |
| | | | Visit or click on the following link to get |
| * Maryland's Primary Adult Care Program (PAC) | | | | Maryland health insurance rate quotes from |
| for low-income individuals, 19 or older, who | | | | top-rated companies and see how much you can |
| are not on Medicare and who don't qualify for | | | | save. You can get more insurance tips in |
| Medicaid. | | | | their Articles section, and get answers to |
| | | | your questions from an insurance expert by |
| *Maryland's Family Planning Program for women | | | | using their online chat service. |
| who have lost their Medicaid coverage after | | | | |
| being covered for a pregnancy under MCHP. | | | | The author, Brian Stevens, is a former |
| | | | insurance agent and financial consultant who |
| To find out if you're eligible for any of | | | | has written a number of articles on Maryland |
| these programs go to the Maryland Department | | | | health insurance. |
| of Health website - dhmh.state.md.us - click | | | | |