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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 and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs 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.