ME-Health Care Insurance Reform Bill

On May 17, 2011, Governor Paul LePage signed Maine's new health insurance reform bill, "An Act To Modify Rating Practices for Individual and Small Group Health Plans and To Encourage Value-based Purchasing of Health Care Services."  The legislation's goal is to make individual and small group health insurance more accessile and affordable. The bill will allow out-of-state insurance companies to sell plans to Maine residents, and requires a four dollar per month fee to be paid for every person covered by a policy to fund the state's high risk insurance pool. Proponents see the bill as a way to increase competition and give consumers more health care choices, while bringing down costs in the state. Opponents worry that the bill will increase premiums for Maine's elderly and rural populations.