Residents responded favorably to Howard County?s plan to give low-cost health care to thousands of residents but questioned how it would be funded and what services were included.
“I think it?s still a test program until they establish success targets,” Ed Rekas of Ellicott City said after Tuesday?s town hall meeting in Ellicott City, the first of three on the new plan.
In the first year of the program, County Executive Ken Ulman said only 2,000 residents will be enrolled in the program at a cost of $2.8 million. Officials are hoping to eventually provide low-cost health care to between 10,000 and 15,000 uninsured residents. Of the $2.8 million, $1.6 million will come from the monthly fees paid by the residents, $700,000 will come from the private sector and $500,000 will come from general funds in the county budget, Ulman said.
“I think it?s a really exciting program,” said Carol Trapnell of Ellicott City. “I?m interested to see how all the details work out.”
Health officials also warned that if residents didn?t “substantially comply” with all of their responsibilities, they would lose their services, except primary-care visits that are covered by monthly fees.
“We feel very strongly that health care is a right, but it?s also a responsibility,” said Howard County Health Officer Dr. Peter Beilenson.
“Every single participant in the program must have a health coach and a health action plan,” Beilenson said.
To be eligible for the program, a person must be a legal U.S. resident, a Howard County resident for at least one year and be medically uninsured for at least one year, and uninsured for six months at the program?s start. Officials expect the plan to be completed in January and to start in July. The plan could become a model for national health care coverage for the uninsured.
BY THE NUMBERS
These Howard residents would pay $50 a month for health care:
» Single adults earning less than $20,420
» Couples earning less than $27,380
» Families of four earning less than $41,300
These Howard residents would pay $85 per month for health care:
» Single adults earning between $20,421 and $30,620
» Couples earning between $27,381 and $41,070
» Families of four earning between $41,301 and $61,950
Source: Howard County Health Department
