Senate Approves "High Risk Pool" Legislation

Senate Bill 507 would provide health care coverage for uninsured

The Senate approved Senate Bill 507, legislation creating a "High-Risk Pool" as an alternative for individuals with severe health conditions to obtain affordable health insurance, according to Senator Don White, Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

"As Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, I have taken a great interest in health insurance issues and, with the recent passage of the Federal Health Care Legislation, the landscape of our responsibility has changed greatly – in ways we still do not know," Senator White said. "Whether one agrees or disagrees with the Federal effort, it has passed and it is my opinion that we have a responsibility to ensure Pennsylvania enacts the best measures possible so our state has the ability to direct the implementation of this new law to the best benefit of our citizens."

Senator White said Pennsylvania must be proactive in enacting health care measures or potentially have that role usurped by the federal government. Senate Bill 507 is a key part of the 15-bill Senate Republican HealthNET PA package of legislation to expand access and improve the quality of health care for Pennsylvania's citizens.

"One concept the Federal law embraced and Senate Republicans have long supported is the High Risk Pool. Now, the Federal government is moving very quickly to establish the pools and requested states submit 'expressions of interest' on the matter by April 30, 2010," Senator White said. "Since Pennsylvania does not have a High Risk Pool in place, we will be challenged in some form or fashion to either have a High Risk Pool established or have the Federal government do it for us."

Senate Bill 507 establishes a governing board to be appointed by the Governor and General Assembly, which would include insurers, health care experts, the business community, and members of the general public. The Pennsylvania Health Insurance Pool (PHIP) Board would then hire an administering insurer - through competitive bid - to manage the pool.

Contact:

Joe Pittman
(717) 787-8724