Brewster Applauds the Highmark – UPMC Agreement for Open Access to Health Network

Brewster Applauds the Highmark – UPMC Agreement for Open Access to Health Network

Junio 24, 2019

Harrisburg – Junio 24, 2019 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) released the following statement concerning the 10-year agreement between Highmark and UPMC to permit in-network access to UPMC doctors and hospitals. 

The agreement was announced less than a week before those with Highmark insurance would have lost in-network access to UPMC doctors and facilities. 

A continuación, los comentarios de Brewster:

“The agreement today will preserve health care options and is excellent and welcomed news.  The agreement will relieve tension and anxiety from patients who were caught in the middle between the providers.

“In the Pittsburgh area, we have world class health care.  Those who are sick and need help should be able to continue to access care from professionals they are comfortable with, regardless of the insurance that they carry.   

“Highmark and UPMC have a responsibility to serve those who need care and I applaud them for their ability to reach this agreement.  Insurance coverage should not be a barrier that prevents a sick patient from seeing a doctor or provider of their choice. 

“I applaud Governor. Tom Wolf, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, officials from UPMC and Highmark, Senator Jay Costa, Representative Dan Frankel and so many others for digging in and working toward a solution to this very difficult issue.”

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Brewster: Open Enrollment for Health Insurance Coverage Begins Nov. 1

Octubre 30, 2017

Harrisburg – Octubre 30, 2017 — Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) reminded individuals and families who need health coverage through the Affordable Care Act for 2018 that the open enrollment period begins on Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 15.

“It is important for individuals and families to understand that they can access health care through the insurance marketplace,” Brewster said.  “With the attempted repeals of the Affordable Care Act, there has been a great deal of confusion about the future of the marketplace.  The marketplace will be open for enrollment in Noviembre.

“The fear is that those who can access health care through the marketplace will not sign up for coverage.” 

Brewster said that lawmakers need to reverse the impression that access to health care coverage is not available. 

Individuals can re-enroll or enroll for coverage by visiting HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center 24 hours a day at 1-800-318-2596.

The Affordable Care Act has helped more than a million Pennsylvanians receive health care.  More than 700,000 individuals gained coverage through Medicaid expansion and another 400,000 purchased coverage on the individual marketplace.

According to the Wolf Administration, the state’s rate of uninsured Pennsylvanians is at 5.6 percent, its lowest level ever.

“Taking a moment of time to explore the insurance marketplace to find the right insurance plan for your family is a good investment,” Brewster said. “Health insurance provides life-saving access to care and saves individuals and families money when they face medical issues. 

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Brewster Presses for Resolution to adultBasic Funding Shortfall

Febrero 3, 2011

McKeesport, Febrero 3, 2011 – Reflecting on the large number of local working families that rely on the state’s adultBasic program for health care coverage, state Sen. Jim Brewster today said he is urging legislative leaders and Gov. Tom Corbett to work together to fill the program’s $55 million funding gap.

“Unless action is taken soon, this program will expire on Febrero 28,” Brewster said. “AdultBasic is too crucial to low income working families for us to let it fail.”

AdultBasic provides low cost health insurance to over 40,000 Pennsylvanians. While commending Gov. Corbett for his interest in solving the funding crisis, Brewster said Corbett’s suggestion that the federally-funded Fair Care program pick up the slack would likely spur premium hikes that many local adultBasic enrollees could not afford.

“AdultBasic enrollees would face a whopping 800 percent premium hike,” Brewster said. “Making matters worse, the federal program only has 1,000 slots available – and there are 40,000 current adultBasic enrollees and thousands more on the waiting list.

“I hope people understand that most of these adultBasic enrollees are hard working people,” Brewster said. “Many hold down two or three jobs trying to make ends meet. By the time they pay their rent, utility and grocery bills, they have little left to pay for health insurance.”

Under the adultBasic program, eligible workers pay a monthly $36 per person premium. The program was previously funded with tobacco settlement monies and through contributions from the Blues Plans through the Community Health Reinvestment Agreement.

Brewster praised Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), who is calling for a four-caucus legislative meeting to work on ways to resolve the adultBasic funding issue.

As a means to put a human face on how the adultBasic funding crisis will hurt working families, Brewster is urging people to log onto his website at www.senatorbrewster.com and provide personal accounts or sign a petition urging that the adultBasic Program be saved.

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