The state marketplace where the uninsured can buy health plans beginning Tuesday is ready for business, but state health officials are prepared for glitches in the system.
Maryland Health Connection, which operates much like a travel or other online shopping website, opens at 8 a.m. and will allow people to search 45 plans offered by six insurers.
But, as with any new computer system, there is a chance for problems. Among the ones state officials anticipate possibly happening: failing servers and connection problems.
A crew of around 20 will work at a command center set up to watch out for mishaps and correct them quickly.
"With any major launch, we anticipate bumps in the road," said Rebecca Pearce, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, the entity in charge of operating Maryland Health Connection. "We are poised and ready to address those, and we expect them to come up."
Pearce led a demonstration of the seemingly consumer-friendly website Monday. Like most shopping sites, customers can set up an account with a username and password. Then they will be able to compare health plans and see if they qualify for Medicaid and subsidies.
A feature state officials think is unique to Maryland allows users to search a doctor's name to see which insurance plans he or she participates in. A link on Maryland Health Connection will take consumers to another Web page with this information.
People also can buy insurance by contacting a call center or in-person at various offices around the state.
The state expects about 150,000 of the 800,000 uninsured Marylanders to buy insurance from the exchange in the first year. Another 100,000 are expected to gain coverage through an expansion of Medicaid.
Pearce said she expects a lot of window shopping on the exchange on the first day and that people might not purchase plans until closer to the end of the enrollment period in March. It will take 15 minutes to an hour for people to enroll.
Health Secretary Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein said the new process for insurance enrollment is less invasive and simpler than what is in place now for people who buy private insurance. Insurance companies now can ask for years of medical history and getting approved for coverage can take weeks, he said.
The demonstration showed a website that asked only basic questions, such as address, income level and Social Security number, in order to set up an account.
"With marylandhealthconnection.gov, we're making things exponentially easier for consumers and more private," Sharfstein said. "Compared to where we are today, this is a quantum leap forward in access to health insurance in the ease of applying."
The state also took measures to protect Social Security numbers and other personal information when using the exchange. Numerous security scans were done to make sure the system could not be infiltrated, Pearce said. Background checks were done on employees who will help Marylanders enroll.
"This is the beginning of a 180-day journey to enroll people and get them access to care," Pearce said.
andrea.walker@baltsun.com
Twitter.com/ankwalker
FYI
Marylanders can call the state's call center at 855-642-8572 or 1-855-642-8573 for TTY service. The website for the health care exchange is marylandhealthconnection.gov.
Planning on shopping for health insurance on the new Maryland exchanges on Tuesday? Baltimore Sun reporters want to talk to you. Email healthsci@baltsun.com.
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