Keep Health Insurance Protections in PA
Urge Your Senator to Support Healthcare Protections
"The Christian Church is called to be an active participant in fashioning a just and effective health care system. Responding to those who were sick was integral to the life and ministry of Jesus and has been a central aspect of the Church's mission throughout its history. Health care and healing are concrete manifestations of God's ongoing care for and redemption of all creation." - From the ELCA Social Statement Caring For Health: Our Shared Endeavor (2003)
Preventative care is a common-sense, proven, and cost-effective tool to keep Pennsylvanians healthy. Preventative care can detect serious diseases early or prevent them altogether, ensure that mothers and their children survive pregnancy and grow healthy and strong, and is a key component of treating mental health and other conditions. As people of faith, we know that caring for our health and the health of others means providing just and equitable access to preventative care services.
The federal Affordable Care Act requires health insurance coverage of preventive services at no cost to the patient. A federal district judge recently struck down the requirement to cover certain preventative care services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The judge’s ruling is currently being appealed to the United States Supreme Court, but if it is upheld, patients may have to pay out-of-pocket for preventative care services that were previously offered at no cost. This may cause patients to put off or forgo potentially lifesaving care or to develop unnecessary and harmful medical complications.
Changes to the availability of no-cost preventive services would impact nearly all Pennsylvanians.Of the recommended USPSTF preventative services that are part of the requirement struck down in the ruling, an estimated 30% are services for children and adolescents, 30% are services for older adults and seniors, and 40% are services for women and pregnant individuals. Nearly one in three of the recommended screenings, interventions, and medications address chronic or life-threatening conditions, including cancer. One in five treat behavioral or mental health conditions. One in six improve maternal health.
In Pennsylvania, 6.2 million people currently have private health coverage that covers preventive services at no cost to them, including 1.4 million children. Additionally, 2.8 million older adults on Medicare benefit from no-cost preventative care services. Without state action, many of these Pennsylvanians may face an unnecessary burden accessing preventative services.
House Bill 755 would update state law to incorporate coverage of recommended preventive care without cost sharing in a manner consistent with current federal law in state-regulated health plans, including large and small group employer plans, CHIP, and individual Pennie plans. Ensuring uniformity in the Pennsylvania-regulated health insurance market minimizes industry uncertainty and patient confusion and will mitigate the potential harmful patient impact of the recent ruling and upcoming Supreme Court decision.
House Bill 535 prevents insurance companies from instituting lifetime caps to coverage for essential benefits, ensuring that Pennsylvanians can rely on their insurance coverage when they need it most.
House Bill 404 ensures that young adults can be stay on their parents' health coverage until the age of 26.
House Bill 618 prohibts denying health coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions.
Preventative care works. It not only saves lives and increases longevity, but it ultimately saves money by avoiding costly treatments later. All four bills passed the House with significant bipartisan support. Take a moment to write to your PA senator to urge them to support these bills when they come through the Senate.
Fill out the form to the right. When you click the "Write my letter" button, it will take you to an autopopulated letter that will be sent to your senator. Please edit the text of the letter to share your stories and views about how preventative care coverage should be preserved in Pennsylvania. Please include a personal note - it really does make a difference!
