Lehigh Times

Pennsylvania government officials are praising the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the 12-year anniversary of President Barack Obama signing it into law, saying that it has led to health care being more accessible for residents nationally and locally. 

In a press release from his office this week, Gov. Tom Wolf said the anniversary of the ACA is a time to reflect on the "great strides" that have been made in the state of Pennsylvania to make sure that its residents have access to affordable health care, noting also that the ACA significantly changed access to health insurance.

"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. "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."

In 2015 Wolf expanded Medical Assistance eligibility requirements in the Quaker State, the release said. Approximately 3.3 million people are covered through the program across the state, and 1 million are enrolled due to the expansion. In July 2019 he signed legislation that created Pennie, which is a state-based marketplace that replaced healthcare.gov for Pennsylvania residents to shop for quality insurance plans and find financial assistance for coverage and care. Nearly 375,000 residents in Pennsylvania use Pennie, and approximately 90% of Pennie customers receive financial assistance.

"Good physical and mental health and well-being is essential to so much in life, and the ability to access care and services must not be a privilege," DHS Acting Secretary Meg Snead said in the release. "The Affordable Care Act made it possible for more than a million people across Pennsylvania to access this most essential need—something even more critical through the public health crisis. Without this historic law, they may have gone without any coverage or care. 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."

Acting Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys said that the ACA has helped millions of Americans gain insurance coverage, which has helped save thousands of lives and strengthened the health care system. 

"The essential health benefits guaranteed through the ACA, including preventative and ambulatory services, hospital care, prescription drug coverage, maternity and newborn care, mental health services, and others, have most certainly had a positive impact on the well-being of Pennsylvania families," Humphreys said in the release.

Pennie Executive Director Zachary W. Sherman said that ACA has made access to affordable health care a reality for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania residents. 

"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," Sherman said in the release. "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."