FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Tim Mahoney D-Fayette www.pahouse.com/Mahoney

Mahoney: House passes bill to expand adultBasic health coverage 

HARRISBURG, June 29 – State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, said he is pleased that the House of Representatives has passed legislation that would expand the state's adultBasic program to provide affordable health insurance coverage to more uninsured Pennsylvanians between the ages of 19-64.

Mahoney said H.B. 1 would give thousands of uninsured adults' access to affordable, quality health care.

"House Bill 1 would benefit working families across Pennsylvania," Mahoney said. "Not only does it expand coverage to more people, the legislation would add other benefits to the program, including prescription medications, chronic disease management, preventive and wellness care and behavioral health care."

Mahoney 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 Fayette County lawmaker said the legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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