Pennsylvania House Democrats Announce Alternative To Cover All Pennsylvanians Plan

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 13 Mar 2008 - 6:00 PST

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Pennsylvania House Democrats on Tuesday announced a proposal that would expand the state's adultBasic program to residents with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The Democratic legislators' proposal, called the Pennsylvania Access to Basic Care program, is intended to serve as an alternative to Gov. Ed Rendell's (D) Cover All Pennsylvanians health care initiative, the Post-Gazette reports.

The Democrats' proposal also would expand the adultBasic program to include coverage for behavioral health services and prescription drugs. The program already covers physician visits, inpatient hospital care and other medical care services for uninsured, low-income residents ages 19 to 64. Under the proposal, individuals with annual incomes up to 200% of the poverty level would be eligible for subsidized coverage, with people contributing premiums of $50 per month. People with incomes greater than 200% of the poverty level would share the premium costs with their employers. Residents with incomes over 300% of the poverty level would have to show proof that they were unable to obtain coverage because of cost or pre-existing medical conditions. The governor's plan would extend coverage to individuals with incomes up to 300% of the poverty level.

Both plans would extend coverage to the 80,000 people on the adultBasic waiting list. House Policy Committee Chair Todd Eachus (D) said the plan could cover about 250,000 of the 510,000 eligible state residents. House Democrats estimate that about 58% of eligible people would qualify for subsidized coverage. The legislative proposal also would give grants to small businesses that provide health care to low-income workers, allow residents to open a health savings account and phase out the MCare malpractice coverage program over a 10-year period. MCare is a state fund that assists physicians with malpractice insurance costs.

Democratic lawmakers said the program would be funded in part by contributions from employers, and individuals and money from existing programs, in addition to the $500 million from the MCare program. State Rep. Tony DeLuca (D) said other potential funding sources include a cigarette tax increase, new cigar and smokeless tobacco taxes, and excess funds from legislative accounts (Fahy/Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 3/11).

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