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MCHP Expansion: Shifting Money Away From The Needy

By Marc Kilmer
Published on Wednesday, March 07, 2007
MARYLAND POLICY REPORT

Among a variety of proposals being considered in the General Assembly regarding health insurance is a plan to provide state coverage for all children who live in families that make up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level—or$82,500 for a family of four in 2007.[1] While other proposals (such as raising the cigarette tax to fund a variety of health programs) are facing opposition, the expansion of state health coverage for children has received widespread support from Governor Martin O’Malley and a bipartisan group of legislators.

Unfortunately, expanding such coverage would burden an already strained state children’s health insurance program, making it more difficult for the program to fulfill its original purpose of protecting the children of needy families.

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