Pennsylvania Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania fell to #28 in the 2009 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• High school graduation – 7
• Infectious disease – 40
• Air pollution – 47
• Lack of health insurance – 7
• Public health funding – 41
• Geographic disparity – 8

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Pennsylvania.

Does Pennsylvania have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

No, Pennsylvania does not offer its own risk pool for its citizens who are medically uninsurable.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Pennsylvania will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Pennsylvania's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Pennsylvania

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Pennsylvania and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Pennsylvania.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Pennsylvania

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Pennsylvania.

USNews health insurance rankings for Pennsylvania

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Pennsylvania.

Official State Goverment Sites with Pennsylvania Health Insurance Information

Pennsylvania Insurance Department--The State of Pennsylvania's department of insurance provides official information all types of insurance.

Health Insurance Tips for Pennsylvania Consumers--From the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

Frequently-Asked-Questions about Health Insurance--From the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.

Childrens Health Insurance Program--CHIP is Pennsylvania's program intended to provide health insurance for children of working families who otherwise could not afford it.