Overview

The Dirigo Health Plan, proposed by Governor John Baldacci and passed by the Maine legislature in June, 2003, is a multi-faceted set of reforms aimed at achieving three major goals: 1) ensure access to quality and affordable coverage for the uninsured and underinsured; 2) slow down the growth of health care costs; and 3) improve quality of care. The key vehicles for coverage expansion are a new health insurance product for small businesses, self-employed and unemployed with subsidies for low-income people; and expansion of Medicaid to additional parents and adults without dependent children.

The state hopes to provide coverage to about 41,000 uninsured and underinsured individuals in its first year alone, and to 189,500 individuals over the course of the first five years of operation, essentially creating a state of universal coverage. Dirigo Health's DirigoChoice insurance plan has opened enrollment for small businesses and self-employed individuals, through a public-private health insurance venture with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine. More than 1,000 individuals have already enrolled, and coverage is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2005. In May 2005, the state announced that Dirigo Health will provide coverage for families earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, up from the previous limit of 150 percent. In announcing the news, Governor John Baldacci said that by expanding coverage, the state will save an estimated $10 million in charity care and bad debt for those who previously had no health insurance.

For More Information Web site: http://www.dirigohealth.maine.gov/index.html Contacts: Trish Riley, Executive Director and Adam Thompson, Legislative and Constituent Liaison, Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance Phone: (207) 624-7442