‘Medicare for All’ bill proposed in Pennsylvania after ACA subsidies expire
A bill proposed by two legislators in Pennsylvania could mean the commonwealth would be the latest to guarantee all residents are covered by health insurance.
Announced by state Reps. Greg Scott and Lindsay Powell—both Democrats—the potential new law would “build a program that would guarantee health insurance to all Pennsylvania residents, similar to Medicare for All proposals on the federal level,” the two wrote in a memo addressed to all members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
The duo said the proposal comes after the federal government failed to rein in the rising cost of health insurance premiums, allowing tax credits that lowered the cost of coverage through the Affordable Care Act to expire.
Scott and Powell said thousands of Pennsylvania residents have already dropped their insurance, rolling the dice on their ability to stay healthy for at least another year.
“For many, this means more susceptibility to both health and financial risks, leaving their families teetering on the brink of financial ruin if, or when, unexpected hospital trips or medical bills come,” they wrote. “In the face of the expiration of the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits, it is clear that we need a new system of health insurance coverage that our constituents can rely on.”
For now, their unnamed bill—supported by a memo simply titled “Medicare for All”—has yet to be officially introduced to the legislature. Scott and Powell are seeking cosponsors interested in making universal coverage in the state a reality.
“Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to guarantee affordable health insurance for every resident of our commonwealth,” they wrote.
State-sponsored coverage or private insurance?
As for the details—few have yet been revealed. Whether the bill would expand state Medicaid to cover everyone, or simply require all residents to purchase insurance with subsidies, remains unknown.
The bill is expected to be officially introduced in the near future, as a memo seeking cosponsors marks a formal first step.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.