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