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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tony DeLuca |
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House passes bill to expand adultBasic program
HARRISBURG, June 29 – State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Allegheny, said the House of Representatives has passed legislation that would expand access to and improve Pennsylvania's adultBasic health insurance program.
The legislation would provide access to affordable health insurance coverage to more people between the ages of 19 and 64.
DeLuca said the legislation (H.B. 1), sponsored by House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, would also add benefits to adultBasic, including prescription medications, chronic disease management, preventive and wellness care, and behavioral health care.
"I am proud that the House passed this legislation," DeLuca said. "This bill is important to the people of Pennsylvania. As chairman of the House Insurance Committee, I believe we need to do more to provide help to the thousands of working Pennsylvanians who cannot access health-care coverage even though they have a job, or because of a pre-existing condition."
DeLuca said to be eligible for adultBasic under H.B. 1, a person would have to:
· earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level;
· be a legal Pennsylvania resident at the time of application;
· not have insurance or have been insured for the six months immediately preceding application;
· not be eligible for Medicare; and
· be between 19 and 64 years of age.
House Bill 1 is a central component of Health PAct, the House Democrats' package of bills aimed at reforming the state's health-care system.
The Allegheny County lawmaker said the legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration
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