June 2003 – Baldacci signs Dirigo into law.

September 2003 – $53 million set aside for start-up. Initial target: enroll 31,000 in first year.

July 2004 – Opening delayed.

October 2004 – Sign-up for coverage starts.

January 2005 – DirigoChoice enrollment opens for sole proprietors and small businesses

April 2005 – Opens to limited individuals (unemployed, retirees, part-time workers)

October 2005 – Superintendent of Insurance decides DirigoChoice has saved $43.7 million in health-care costs.

December 2005 – During 2005, 8,600 people had DirigoChoice coverage at some point; by year end, enrollment’s at 7,400.

January 2006 – $29 million of start-up money left.

April 2006 – Insurance companies due to make their first savings offset payment, about 2 percent of paid claims for January.

Spring 2006 – Both sides are expected in court over the savings offset payment.

December 2006 – Anthem contract to run Dirigo expires.

December 2006 – New goal: to end the year with 21,000 people, between MaineCare and DirigoChoice.