Legislature passes Evans bill to improve health coverage enrollment process

AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Richard Evans, M.D., D-Dover-Foxcroft, to make it more efficient for people to find out if they qualify for free or reduced-cost health coverage.

The bill, LD 1390, establishes a process to use the state’s income tax filing system to identify individuals and families who are uninsured but potentially eligible for benefits under the MaineCare program or for enrollment in a qualified reduced-cost health plan.

“Too often, individuals and families find that trying to navigate the system by themselves becomes overwhelming and perplexing,” said Evans. “They simply give up. This bill would also assist people who are completely unaware that they qualify for low or no-cost health coverage.”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2019, 8.1 percent of Maine people, or more than 100,000 residents, were uninsured, a number that has almost certainly gone up as people lost their employer-based coverage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill now faces further votes in the Legislature in the coming days.

Evans is a physician and surgeon and represents the communities of Atkinson, Brownville, Dover-Foxcroft, Lake View, Medford, Milo and Orneville Township in Piscataquis County. He serves on the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee.