Pennsylvania to Use Portion of Tobacco Settlement to Provide Health Coverage to Uninsured Adults

Pennsylvania officials are developing a plan to use a portion of the state's $11 billion share of the national tobacco settlement to provide basic health coverage to about 375,000 uninsured adults, the Scranton Times Tribune reports. About 1.2 million state residents are uninsured. The program, to be managed by Patricia Stromberg, executive director of the state's CHIP program, would cover adults ages 19 to 64 years old who had been without health insurance for at least 90 days prior to enrolling in the program. Eligible individuals would also be required to have lived in Pennsylvania for at least 90 days and have annual incomes that do not exceed 200% FPL -- $17,180 or less for an individual, $35,300 or less for a family of four. Stromberg said the income levels are slightly higher than the limits to qualify for Medicaid. Eligible individuals would pay monthly premiums of $30 to participate in the program and would receive coverage for doctor visits, preventive care, hospitalization and emergency care. The state Insurance Department is seeking coverage proposals from health insurers, who have until Sept. 14 to submit plans. The insurance department "anticipates" opening the application process in February (Krawczeniuk, Scranton Times Tribune, 8/21). For further information on state health policy in Pennsylvania, visit State Health Facts Online.