Maryland initiative ready to enroll uninsured

Howard County, MD, is set to launch an effort to offer medical coverage to uninsured residents for as little as $50 a month and already has 1,200 county residents lined up to enroll. Officials said they developed the Healthy Howard initiative to give county residents access to a doctor, to reduce crowds in emergency rooms, and to lower healthcare costs. For one month, county residents can sign up for the program, which will provide as many as six visits a year to primary-care doctors, free in-patient hospital care, mental healthcare, discount prescriptions, and other services that would probably cost thousands of dollars if participants had to pay out of pocket. Those enrolled will also be assigned coaches to help them work out personal health plans.