Maryland reopens coronavirus special enrollment for uninsured, suspends plan cancellations

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan yesterday announced the reopening of the state’s coronavirus emergency enrollment period. The reopening of enrollment, which is for private health plans only, will last through Dec. 15.

The Maryland Insurance Commission is also using emergency powers to prevent health insurance companies from cancelling or refusing to renew individual health benefit plan policies for nonpayment of premiums for the next 60 days.

The state said the suspension, in which individual health benefit plan policies that were scheduled to terminate because of unpaid premiums on or after July 31, 2020, will remain in effect through Sept. 30. It applies to individual and family health benefit plan policies issued in Maryland through the Maryland Health Connection, along with some individual and family policies purchased directly from an insurance company.

The suspension does not apply to group insurance policies and other products that do not meet the legal definition of a health benefit plan.

The AHA has requested similar action at the federal level to help the nation’s uninsured affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.