Today Governor Tom Wolf launched a Medicaid Expansion plan for Pennsylvania and directed DHS to withdraw Tom Corbett’s Healthy PA plan from further federal consideration.

“Today is the first step toward simplifying a complicated process and ensuring hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians have greater access to the health insurance they need,” said Wolf. “Our approach will alleviate confusion, remove unnecessary red tape, and streamline the system so that people can see a doctor when they are sick and health care professionals have more time to concentrate on providing quality care.”

According to a press release issued by Wolf’s office, Corbett’s Healthy PA plan resulted in people not receiving treatment, confusion, and certain populations being placed into the wrong plans. Among them, women receiving breast cancer screenings, and individuals receiving treatment for drugs and alcohol. Additionally, Corbett’s Healthy PA plan imposed financial requirements that were not required under the Medicaid expansion.

During the transition to the Medicaid expansion, the state will continue to provide coverage. 

The expansion will mainly benefit people ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level who may be eligible for coverage, including those who have a Private Coverage Option.

For now, people who have coverage under Healthy PA don’t have to do anything. DHS will notify them prior to any changes taking effect.   

Those who don’t have health care coverage can apply online.