ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A measure to help people get health insurance retroactive to Jan. 1, if problems with a state website kept them from doing so will be taking effect.
Gov. Martin O'Malley signed emergency legislation on Thursday in Annapolis to put it into effect immediately.
The measure will enable people who couldn't get through to enroll in Maryland health exchange insurance to be insured by the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. The program is a separate safety net plan that has served as a high-risk pool for state residents without insurance.
Supporters of the bill say it's more of a backup plan. That's because exchange insurers extended a deadline to give more people a chance to get insured retroactively. That deadline was last week.
