Harrisburg, PA – July 2, 2019 – Senator Sharif Street (D- Philadelphia) joined Governor Tom Wolf today to sign into law House Bill 3, historic legislation which creates a Pennsylvania based health insurance exchange for individual market plans. As Democratic Chair of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee, Senator Street worked closely with the Wolf Administration, the Insurance Department, key stakeholders, and other Senators on both sides of the aisle to help move this important bill to the finish line.
“This is a historic day for Pennsylvania. I was pleased, in my capacity as Democratic Chair of the Banking and Insurance Committee, to work closely with the Governor and the House to pass this legislation, which will greatly expand our opportunities to provide low cost, reliable health insurance to the people of Pennsylvania,” said Senator Street.
House Bill 3 is co-sponsored by Democratic leader of the House Rep. Frank Dermondy (D- Allegheny County/Westmoreland) and Republican leader of the House Rep. Bryan Cutler (R- Lancaster). The bill would create a state-based health insurance exchange for Affordable Care Act individual market plans. Having a market place controlled by the state of Pennsylvania rather than the federal government will allow for greater consumer protections and will allow for people to shop for the most cost-effective plans within the state that provide the healthcare coverage that they and their family need.
“Access to quality healthcare is a civil right. It was a pleasure to work in a bipartisan fashion in both the House and Senate to improve the quality of healthcare for so many Pennsylvanians.” Senator Sharif Street (PA-D 3rd District) The bill will also ensure that premiums on the market place are reduced by as much as 10%, making healthcare in Pennsylvania more affordable.
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