Maryland county idea offers access for uninsured

Organizers of "Healthy Howard" are negotiating with specialists to complete a new health care network.

By Doug Trapp, AMNews staff. Dec. 3, 2007.

Washington -- A wealthy Maryland county is working on a plan to provide at least basic health care to most of its 15,000 uninsured adults -- a concept that could be reproduced in many counties around the United States, its proponents say.

The proposal, announced by Howard County leaders in October, would provide free primary, specialty and hospital care; personal care plans; and prescription drugs to enrollees. Individuals would pay monthly premiums ranging from $50 to $85, depending on income. These premiums would cover the bulk of the program's $2.8 billion cost.

"We have the opportunity to make Howard County the model health community," said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman, the county's highest elected official.

A few states and even the combined city/county of San Francisco have expanded health insurance coverage or access to health care through comprehensive reforms. But Howard County might be the first county-only government to tackle health system reform in a significant way.

About 20,000 of the county's 275,000 residents are uninsured. That figure includes 5,000 children, the vast majority of whom are eligible for Maryland's State Children's Health Insurance Program. County leaders hope to enroll as many eligible kids in SCHIP as possible by alerting their parents in letters from Maryland's comptroller that their children qualify, said Howard County Health Officer Peter Beilenson, MD, MPH.

The county hopes to enroll up to 12,000 of the 15,000 uninsured adults in the proposed health access program, called Healthy Howard. Many of the remaining 3,000 uninsured adults are likely young and healthy and not interested in paying for health care, Dr. Beilenson said.