September 26th, 2008

The Senate has approved two bills that would expand opportunities for health insurance in PA, reports the Associated Press.

The first, SB 1453, would allow parents to keep their children on their health plan (as long as the child lives in PA, is unmarried, has no dependents, and has no other health coverage) until the child turns 30.   Insurers, however, would be able to demand premium increases on the child once he or she reaches age 19.

The second, SB 1422, would extend the guidelines for COBRA, the federal law that gives people who lose health insurance provided by an employer the right to keep that coverage at full cost for a limited period under certain circumstances.  Currently, it only applies to people who work for employer groups of 20 or more.   But under the new bill, COBRA would be extended to those who have health insurance under group plans of two to 19 employees. 

Both bills are now under consideration in the House Insurance committee.