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Stop Gap Health Insurance Bill Advances in MD Senate

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Senate has advanced a measure to provide insurance for people who were unable to enroll in the state's health exchange website due to computer problems.

The Senate voted 36-8 late Monday to adopt a favorable report on the measure. That sets the stage for a vote Tuesday to send the bill to the House.

The measure would allow people to enroll in an already existing state insurance pool. Supporters hope it will only be a backup plan, because people can get retroactive coverage under an extended deadline offered by four exchange insurance providers. The new deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Opponents say there are too many questions about problems with the exchange to move forward with the bill.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.