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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tim Seip State
Rep. Neal Goodman |
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Seip, Goodman vote to extend health insurance safety net
to more uninsured Pa. adults
HARRISBURG, June 29 – State Rep. Tim Seip, D-Schuylkill/Berks, and Neal Goodman, D-Schuylkill, today voted for a bill (H.B. 1) that would expand access to and improve Pennsylvania's adultBasic health insurance program.
The bill passed the House and now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
"As a licensed health-care professional, I know how vital it is to have this type of safety net in place, especially during a recession like this national economic downturn that began last year. Even though the state is facing many challenges this year, this needs to be a priority," Seip said.
Goodman said, "This would be a win-win for Pennsylvania residents. The bill would increase the amount of Pennsylvanians in adultBasic, while also helping to hold down costs for people who already have insurance."
Based on data collected in late 2007 and early 2008 by Market Decisions LLC, the state Insurance Department has estimated Pennsylvania had 877,927 uninsured adults ages 19-64, including more than 9,371, or 10 percent of that age group in Schuylkill County and 27,803, or 11 percent of that age group in Berks County.
House Bill 1 would expand the number of adultBasic enrollees and add fundamental benefits including prescription medications, chronic disease management, preventative and wellness care, and behavioral health care.
Seip and Goodman noted that by adding prescription drug and behavioral health coverage, H.B. 1 would not only make adultBasic more cost-effective in managing disease and illness, but also would ensure the program qualifies for federal funding to the tune of 54 cents on the dollar.
To be eligible for adultBasic coverage under H.B. 1, a person would have to:
· earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level;
· be a Pennsylvania resident at the time of application and a legal resident of the United States;
· 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.
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