Pennsylvania expands health care access for low-income residents – WGAL Susquehanna Valley Pa.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania’s state-based health insurance marketplace, known as Pennie, has added a new qualifying life event to allow low-income Pennsylvanians the ability to enroll in health insurance throughout the year.The new qualifying life event will allow Pennsylvanians with an annual household income equal to or below 150% of the federal poverty level to shop and enroll in health insurance through Pennie.Financial assistance is also available for Pennsylvanians. The average amount Pennie customers receive is $500 per month.”This additional qualifying event will make health insurance accessible to some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens, providing them the security of knowing they can receive medical care without the astronomical costs associated with seeking care without health insurance,” Wolf said in a news release.To receive this new qualifying life event through Pennie, new customers will need to visit pennie.com, click “Get Covered” and submit an application. If the customer meets the income qualifications, a Special Enrollment Period will automatically open. Once the Special Enrollment Period opens, the customer will have 60 days to shop and enroll in a health care plan through Pennie.Currently, this opportunity is only available for those not receiving health coverage through Pennie.Beginning June 2022, existing Pennie customers whose income is lower than or equal to the 150% federal poverty level can update their application and change their current plan using this qualifying life event.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Pennsylvania’s state-based health insurance marketplace, known as Pennie, has added a new qualifying life event to allow low-income Pennsylvanians the ability to enroll in health insurance throughout the year.

The new qualifying life event will allow Pennsylvanians with an annual household income equal to or below 150% of the federal poverty level to shop and enroll in health insurance through Pennie.

Financial assistance is also available for Pennsylvanians. The average amount Pennie customers receive is $500 per month.

“This additional qualifying event will make health insurance accessible to some of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens, providing them the security of knowing they can receive medical care without the astronomical costs associated with seeking care without health insurance,” Wolf said in a news release.

Wolf administration

Income qualifications for Pennie.

To receive this new qualifying life event through Pennie, new customers will need to visit pennie.com, click “Get Covered” and submit an application. If the customer meets the income qualifications, a Special Enrollment Period will automatically open. Once the Special Enrollment Period opens, the customer will have 60 days to shop and enroll in a health care plan through Pennie.

Currently, this opportunity is only available for those not receiving health coverage through Pennie.

Beginning June 2022, existing Pennie customers whose income is lower than or equal to the 150% federal poverty level can update their application and change their current plan using this qualifying life event.