Covering the Uninsured
In January 2007, Governor Rendell announced an ambitious new plan to cover the uninsured. Click here to read a summary of it. In addition to Medical Assistance, there are various programs in Pennsylvania that may help the uninsured get coverage.
adultBasic
adultBasic (also known as "Adult Basic Coverage" or "ABC") provides low-cost health care coverage for uninsured Pennsylvanians ages of 19 to 64 with income under 200% of the federal poverty level ($1,702 per month/single, $2,282 per month/household of 2, etc. - in 2007).
See our adultBasic brochure for more information about the adultBasic program and what it covers. To find out if you might be eligible for the adultBasic program, go to our quickscreen tool. To apply for the adultBasic program, go to the state's online interactive application form.
For details about adultBasic and the rules of how it must be administered, see the adultBasic contract, known as an "RFP".
As of November, 2006, 64,000 people sit on the waiting list to join adultBasic.
CHIP
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides free or low-cost health care coverage to many middle and lower-income children whose families are over the Medical Assistance income limits. With the 2006 passage of "Cover All Kids", children in families with incomes now up to 300% of the federal poverty level ($4,293/3 person household in 2007) may be eligible for coverage.
To find out if a child might be eligible for the CHIP program, go to our quickscreen tool. To apply for the CHIP program, go to the state's online interactive application form. For more information on the CHIP program and what health care services it covers, see our flyer on the CHIP program for information.
BCCPT
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment program provides Medical Assistance coverage to women who need treatment for breast or cervical cancer (or any metastasis thereof) or pre-cancerous conditions. Eligible women are between the ages of 16 and 64 and have incomes below 250% of the federal poverty level ($2,127/single, $2,852/married couple - in 2007).
For information on the BCCPT program, see our flyer about BCCPT coverage in Pennsylvania.
To find out if a woman might be eligible for the BCCPT program, go to our quickscreen tool. To enter the BCCPT program, women must be screened at a HealthyWoman Program site. These are sites that have Department of Healthy funding to complete breast and cervical cancer screenings for women in Pennsylvania.
To find a location near you, see the state's Healthy Women directory. You can also call the HealthyWoman Program at 1-800-215-7494 or visit www.PAHealthyWoman.com for more information.
For more detailed medical information on what cancers and pre-cancerous conditions qualify a woman for the program, including diagnosis codes, see Medical Assistance Bulletin 99-01-12 on the BCCPT program.
Additional information on the BCCPT Program may be obtained at: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/servicesprograms/medicalassistance/breastcancerscreening/bcpfaq/003671495.htm
Other Private Health Plan Coverage Options
In Pennsylvania, the Blue Cross/Blue Shield companies offer lower-cost insurance, referred to as "special care". Contact your regional Blue Cross/Blue Shield company for more information about their Special Care Plan.
Additionally, Pennsylvanians who recently lost employment-based insurance may be able to retain coverage through the COBRA law or obtain private coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions, through the HIPAA law. For more information about COBRA and HIPAA rules, see the Department of Insurance's Guide to Health Insurance.
Getting Free Health Care without Insurance
Uninsured Pennsylvanians may be able to get free health treatment at local community health centers. Click to see a list of Pennsylvania's community health centers. There are also some resources for free dental and eye care. Click to see a list of ways to get free or low-cost dental care and ways to get free or low-cost eye care.
Getting prescription drugs
Uninsured Pennsylvanians, or Pennsylvanians in plans without prescriptions coverage, should see our page on accessing prescription coverage and our brochure on accessing prescription drugs.
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