House Insurance Committee advances landmark legislation to strengthen health coverage for Pennsylvanians
Rep. Patty Kim September 30, 2024 | 11:11 AM
HARRISBURG, Sept. 30 – In a pivotal moment for health insurance reform, the Pennsylvania House Insurance Committee, chaired by state Rep. Patty Kim, D-Dauphin/Cumberland, has reported out three significant pieces of legislation that promise to protect health insurance coverage if the Affordable Care Act were repealed.
House Bill 2562, sponsored by state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, would prohibit health insurance policies from establishing annual or lifetime dollar limits on essential health care, such as emergency care, maternity and newborn care, and mental health services. By removing these caps, the legislation would ensure that Pennsylvanians have comprehensive and uninterrupted coverage for essential health services.
House Bill 2563, sponsored by state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, would allow parents to keep adult children on their health insurance plans until they turn 26. Before the Affordable Care Act became law, many kids turned 18 and were dropped from their parent’s insurance plan. Losing health insurance coverage led to many young healthy individuals leaving the health insurance market entirely. Because of the lack of healthy individuals to balance out sicker policyholders, insurance premiums became unaffordable for many young people.
House Bill 2564, sponsored by state Rep. Jim Haddock, D-Luzerne/Lackawanna, would prohibit health insurers from denying or excluding coverage for preexisting conditions. This critical measure would protect individuals from being denied health insurance or facing higher premiums due to their medical history, ensuring that everyone has access to health care.
Kim expressed her enthusiasm about the passage of these bills, stating, “Today, we’ve taken a major step forward in our commitment to providing robust and inclusive health coverage for all Pennsylvanians. These bills are designed to address key barriers to health care access and ensure that every individual, regardless of their age or health history, has the support they need, regardless of what happens in Washington, D.C.”
The proposals now move to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.