Keystone Today

In honor of the 12th anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Affordable Care Act into law, Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) praised the accessibility of health care in the Quaker State.

In 2015, Wolf expanded Medical Assistance eligibility requirements in the state to help with access to affordable health care. About 3.3 million people are covered through Medical Assistance, and about 1 million people specifically enrolled due to this expansion. Wolf said that the ACA has significantly changed peoples’ access to health insurance across the country and in the state of Pennsylvania.

“The progress we have made due to the ACA has been remarkable, as we’ve seen the lowest uninsured rate in Pennsylvania history, realized by Medicaid expansion and the creation of the commonwealth’s very own health insurance marketplace, Pennie,” Wolf said, according to the Official Pennsylvania Government Website. “Our low uninsured rate means that Pennsylvanians aren’t having to choose between getting the health care they deserve and putting food on their tables. I am proud of the work my administration has done to make that a reality.”

President Barack Obama | Wikimedia Commons/Pete Souza

In July 2019 Wolf also signed legislation that created Pennie, which is a state-run marketplace for health insurance. This replaced Healthcare.gov as the official spot for Pennsylvanians to shop for health insurance plans. It is also the only source for financial assistance. Pennie provides health insurance to 375,000 people, 90% of whom are getting financial assistance.

“The Affordable Care Act has made access to affordable, quality health coverage a reality for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians,” Pennie Executive Director Zachary Sherman said, according to the Official Pennsylvania Government Website. “Strengthened by the American Rescue Plan, the ACA provides stability, peace of mind and an environment in which Americans don’t have to depend on their jobs for health insurance. The ACA’s consumer protections, comprehensive benefits and financial assistance deliver a healthier and more stable future for millions of families across the commonwealth and country.” 

Acting Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys said that the essential health benefits through the ACA -- such as preventative and ambulatory services, prescription drugs, hospital care, maternity and newborn care, and mental health issues -- has had a positive impact on Pennsylvanians. He said the the state’s residents now have greater access to coverage without worrying about whether preexisting conditions would limit their opportunities.

“The ACA has helped millions of Americans gain insurance coverage, saved thousands of lives and strengthened the health care system, and we’re better off for it,” Humphreys said, according to the Official Pennsylvania Government Website.

Department of Health and Services Acting Secretary Meg Snead said that good physical and mental health are essential in life, and the ACA has made it possible for millions to access that most essential need.

“Without this historic law, they may have gone without any coverage or care,” Snead said, according to the Official Pennsylvania Government Website. “It is impossible to measure the collective positive impact of the ACA’s legacy, and we must continue to build off this progress and invest in basic health and quality of life for all people, no matter their circumstance.”