EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0701*
SENATE BILL 701
J5 EMERGENCY BILL 4lr2863
CF 4lr2848
By: Senator Beidle
Introduced and read first time: January 30, 2024
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Health Benefit Exchange – State–Based Young Adult Health 2
Insurance Subsidies Pilot Program – Amount of Annual Subsidies 3
FOR the purpose of altering the amount of funds the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange 4
is authorized to designate for annual subsidies under the State–Based Young Adult 5
Health Insurance Subsidies Pilot Program for certain fiscal years to include unspent 6
funds designated for subsidies for young adults in a previous calendar year; and 7
generally relating to the State–Based Young Adult Health Insurance Subsidies Pilot 8
Program. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
Article – Insurance 11
Section 31–122(a), (d), (f), and (g) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
Article – Insurance 16
Section 31–122(e) 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Insurance 22
31–122. 23
(a) In this section, “Pilot Program” means the State–Based Young Adult Health 24
Insurance Subsidies Pilot Program. 25 2 SENATE BILL 701
(d) (1) For calendar years 2022 through 2025, the Exchange, in consultation 1
with the Commissioner and as approved by the Board, shall establish subsidy eligibility 2
and payment parameters for the Pilot Program. 3
(2) In determining the subsidy eligibility and payment parameters 4
required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Exchange shall consider: 5
(i) young adults at least 18 years old and under the age of 41 years; 6
and 7
(ii) income groups between 133% and 400% of the federal poverty 8
level. 9
(e) (1) Subject to available funds AND PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS 10
SUBSECTION , in each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, the Exchange may designate funds 11
from the Fund to be used for the Pilot Program so that [not more than $20,000,000 in] 12
annual subsidies may be provided to young adults who meet the subsidy eligibility and 13
payment parameters established under subsection (d) of this section. 14
(2) FOR EACH OF CALENDAR YEARS 2024 AND 2025, THE FUNDS 15
DESIGNATED UNDER PAR AGRAPH (1) OF THIS SU BSECTION MAY NOT EXC EED 16
$20,000,000 PLUS ANY UNSPENT FUN DS DESIGNATED FOR SU BSIDIES FOR YOUNG 17
ADULTS IN A PREVIOUS CALENDAR YEAR . 18
(f) The Exchange shall adopt regulations implementing the provisions of this 19
section. 20
(g) The Exchange shall adopt regulations to provide a subsidy to cover 100% of 21
the cost of the premium for young adults who have a 0% expected contribution under the 22
subsidy eligibility parameters established under subsection (d) of this section. 23
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency 24
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has 25
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to 26
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is 27
enacted. 28