Luminus in Action: Advocating for Immigrant Health Insurance Access

Luminus is proud to have offered testimony to the Maryland Senate on SB0705 the Health Insurance – Qualified Resident Enrollment Program, also called the Access to Care Act. The purpose of the legislation is to open Maryland’s Health Insurance Marketplace to all Marylanders regardless of their immigration status.

We applaud the Maryland Senate for passing the legislation which had already passed the Maryland House of Delegates.

According to Maryland Matters, “Currently, federal laws say that undocumented residents are “not eligible to enroll in federally funded coverage… or to purchase coverage through the ACA (Affordable Care Act) Marketplaces,” according to KFF, a nonprofit health policy research and polling organization. California and Washington state have sought federal waivers for similar initiatives, which were approved.”

In his testimony, Luminus CEO Gabe Moreno reminded legislators that “Maryland’s immigrant community, which plays a vital role in the economic and social fabric of our state,” has faced “barriers to accessing healthcare. These individuals often have limited access to health insurance and healthcare services, which can lead to adverse health outcomes and increased healthcare costs in the long run.”