HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania House voted for legislation (H.B. 1) that would expand access to and improve Pennsylvania's adultBasic health insurance program.   The measure still needs action in the Senate.

A 2004 Health Insurance Survey conducted by Market Decisions LLC for the Pennsylvania Insurance Department showed more than 745,000 uninsured adults across the Commonwealth, and this number has grown even more since due to rising unemployment. For each 1-point increase in the unemployment rate, an estimated 44,000 additional Pennsylvanians lose coverage.

"There are almost 30,000 uninsured adults between the ages of 19 and 64 in Luzerne and Monroe counties alone," State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Luzerne/Monroe said. "That is almost 12 percent of the entire adult population in both counties. It is our responsibility, even in these tough economic times, to take action to offer quality health care to these thousands and thousands of Pennsylvanians who are currently uninsured."

House Bill 1 would expand the adultBasic program to provide health care to more uninsured Pennsylvanians, as well as add fundamental benefits, including prescription medications, chronic disease management, preventative and wellness care, and behavioral health care.

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;
• not have insurance nor have been insured for the six months immediately preceding application;
• not be eligible for Medicare;  
• be between 19 and 64 years of age.