As part of Howard County?s continuing push for universal health care, 175 residents will have a chance to receive low-cost health insurance for two years.
“This is a small, but very nice, very productive step” toward the goal of affordable universal health care, Howard?s Health Officer Dr. Peter Beilenson said.
The department is partnering with Kaiser Permanente to provide health insurance at a discounted rate to residentswho earn up to 250 percent of the federal poverty limit, or about $51,600.
In Howard, more than 21,700 families earned less than $50,000 in 2006, according to the U.S. Census.
Residents who are between jobs or are not covered by their employers will receive care through Kaiser Permanente?s Bridge program. The program helps those who don?t qualify for Medicare or Medicaid, said Sandra Gregg, spokeswoman for Kaiser Permanente.
“There are many people who don?t get coverage through their employers and are making salaries that aren?t high enough to buy [insurance] on their own,” Gregg said.
In the mid-Atlantic region, 12 jurisdictions participate in the Bridge program, including Baltimore City and Baltimore County, she said. About 1,800 people in the area receive coverage through the program.
Kaiser Permanente pays 90 to 95 percent of the premium, which last year cost the nonprofit organization about $7.5 million, Gregg said.
Depending on family size and income, monthly premiums for participants range from $19.35 to $112.40.
The Howard Health Department will hold a lottery to select 175 participants from those who qualify.
The program, which health officials plan to announce today, is part of the department?s overall plan to expand health care access to all county residents. The county next month will unveil details of a plan to increase access to health care to the county?s 18,000 to 20,000 uninsured residents.
