In 2005, when Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurers were worried about an investigation of their multimillion-dollar surplus, they agreed to contribute to low-cost health insurance plans for Pennsylvania’s working poor.

The agreement is set to expire at the end of this calendar year, and the four Blues that operate in the state — including Highmark Blue Cross-Blue Shield in Western Pennsylvania — have shown little appetite for continuing their voluntary participation. That’s why Democrats Todd Eachus, the House majority leader from Luzerne County, and co-sponsor Tony DeLuca of Penn Hills introduced House Bill 2455.

Under the Community Health Reinvestment Agreement of 2005, the Blues pledged to funnel $1 billion in six years to pay for adultBasic coverage and to help cover insurance premium subsidies, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and other health plans. The bulk of the money went to adultBasic, which covers 39,180 people, and, if the health insurers won’t continue to provide funds, tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians could lose their coverage.

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