COSTA PRAISES COVERAGE FOR 35,000 UNINSURED PENNSYLVANIANS

HARRISBURG, September 7, 2007 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today said he was happy with the enrollment of 35,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians to the state’s adultBasic Insurance Program.

The additional enrollees were on the waiting list for adultBasic and will now be given the opportunity to receive quality health coverage at a manageable $33.50 monthly premium.

“This is another step toward insuring all working Pennsylvanians,” Costa said. “Every citizen deserves the sense of security that comes with quality health coverage.”

Pennsylvania citizens who are still on the waiting list for adultBasic have the option to pay about $305 per month for this coverage. Paying for private health insurance would cost considerably more.

“This program is essential to the quality of life that all of our constituents deserve,” Costa said. “Offering affordable health care coverage for all individuals in our state continues to be one of my goals.”

There are currently more than 44,000 Pennsylvanians enrolled in the program. This expansion will reduce the adultBasic waiting list from 111,000 people to roughly 76,000.

AdultBasic offers necessary benefits – including preventative care, physician services, diagnosis and treatment of illness or injury, in-patient hospitalization, outpatient hospital services, emergency accident care and medical care – to uninsured Pennsylvanians between the ages of 19 and 64.