Bill Positions

Bill Number: HB 462

Bill Title: Health Insurance - Small Group Market - Self-Employed Individuals - Sunset Extension

Bill Sponsor(s): Delegate Pendergrass

Subject: Health

Committee: HGO

Bill Summary: This bill would extend for another 3 years the ability of self-employed persons to remain in small group.

History: SB 1014 of 2005 removed self-employed persons as eligible employees under the small group plan effective 10/1/05, but with the provision that they could elect to remain in their current plan through 9/30/08 if they continued to meet the definition of self-employed. The bill also required the MIA and MHIP to report on or before 9/1/08 on certain aspects of self-employed enrollment.

Chamber Position: Support

Position Summary: We believe that it is prudent to allow those self-employed individuals currently in small group to continue to participate in that plan as the MIA and MHIP evaluate and report on the impact of those individuals on those plans.

Position Statement: Click here to download a pdf version of the Maryland Chamber's position statement.

Chamber Staff: Ronald Wineholt

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.