For Immediate Release
3/25/09

State Senate Unanimously Endorses Senator Corman's  Bill To Extend Insurance Benefits to Young Adults

Harrisburg – The State Senate today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Senator Jake Corman (R-34) that would extend health insurance coverage to adult dependent children up to the age of 30. 

Corman's legislation is part of the Senate Republican HealthNET PA package, a blueprint that expands access to health care and medicine to uninsured and low-income working Pennsylvanians. 

"Senate Bill 189 is particularly important in these tough economic times, where young people may be able to find a job but they don’t receive benefits or have to pay extremely high deductibles," Corman said. "This is an innovative and fiscally responsible way to provide insurance to more Pennsylvanians at a cost they can afford." 

Corman's bill would extend insurance to adult dependent children, up to the age of 30, who are not married, have no dependents, are residents of the Commonwealth or are enrolled as a full-time student at an institution of higher education and are not provided insurance coverage or eligible for government benefits. 

"In Pennsylvania, the largest segment of the uninsured -- roughly half -- is young adults age 18 to 34," Senator Corman said. "This legislation would provide an option that would enable some of those young adults to receive the health insurance coverage under their parent's policy." 

In addition to Corman's legislation, the Senate Republican HealthNET PA package provides access to specialized care and affordable prescriptions, utilizes information technology to control costs and reduce health care-associated infections, and provides expanded insurance options for employers and families. 

"Because of our economic crisis, more and more people are losing health care coverage," Corman said.  "HealthNET PA expands access to health care and medicine to uninsured and low-income working Pennsylvanians more quickly, and at a fraction of the cost of other state and national proposals. It’s a fiscally responsible and effective way to expand insurance coverage in the Commonwealth."

Contact:

Tim Nyquist
(717) 787-1377

Additional Information:
Health Care

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