Marylanders have time to get health coverage

BALTIMORE — Marylanders have time to enroll in health coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2022 on the state’s health insurance marketplace, Maryland Health Connection.

According to a news release, Maryland residents can enroll in a private health insurance plan until Jan. 15, 2022.

This year, open enrollment through Maryland Health Connection runs a month longer than in recent years.

Those who enroll by Dec. 31, 2021, will have coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2022.

Anyone who enrolls during the first two weeks of January will have coverage beginning Feb. 1, 2022, the news release states.

“New federal and state laws offer financial help for those who did not qualify in the past,” Michele Eberle, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, said in the news release. “More than three-quarters of those who already have enrolled qualified for savings on their 2022 plans.”

There is also a new state subsidy to lower costs for enrollees between the ages of 18 and 34.

More than 45,000 young adults have enrolled in private coverage for 2022 since Nov. 1, according to the news release, and two-thirds of them have qualified for the additional subsidy to lower their monthly bills about $36 on average.

This enrollment period is for private health plans only.

Those who qualify for Medicaid may enroll any time of year.

Shop and enroll online at MarylandHealthConnection. gov. For free help from a navigator or broker, visit https:// www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/find-help/ or call Maryland Health Connection at 855-642-8572.