PA Governor Set to Sign Dependent Care Measure
May 18, 2009 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Pennsylvania
Governor Edward Rendell is expected to sign a bill extending
health care coverage under a parent's policy for dependent
children up to age 30.
Media reports indicate that the Keystone
State's House okayed the measure 192 to 2 after the
state Senate gave the measure unanimous approval in late
March. Rendell, who has championed the bill as part of a
broader health-care initiative, said through a spokesman
he would sign it into law, the media reports said.
To qualify, dependents must be unmarried, have no
dependents of their own, and be residents of Pennsylvania
or full-time students. Dependents also cannot have other
health insurance coverage nor be eligible for
government-provided health benefits.
"I am pleased that the House acted quickly to
move Senate Bill 189 on to the Governor's desk for
enactment into law," said prime sponsor
Senator Jake Corman, in a Web statement. "This
bill is particularly important in these tough economic
times. Many working young people don't receive benefits or
have to pay extremely high premiums. That results in young
adults age 18 to 34 representing the largest segment of
uninsured Pennsylvanians. Senate Bill 189 provides an
innovative and fiscally responsible way to provide
insurance to some of those young adults at a cost they and
their families can afford."
Proponents said many young people are staying in
college longer to pursue advanced degrees, and may be
unable to obtain their own health insurance coverage into
their late 20s. Other young adults take jobs that
don't offer health benefits.
More information about the bill is available
here
.
Fred Schneyer
editors@plansponsor.com