Gov. Ed Rendell today urged quick passage of a plan to provide state-subsidized health insurance. The plan would cover 272,000 people after five years. It would cost $480 million during the first year, and $1.1 billion in year five.

People with lower incomes would receive coverage for free. People who earn up to $42,000 could obtain coverage at $40 to $50 a month. Those who earn up to $63,000 could buy in at the state's cost.

The state House, where Democrats have the majority, approved the plan yesterday. The bill now goes to the state Senate, where Republicans have a majority. Many Republicans opposed the plan, with some deriding it as socialism and similar to Hillary-care.

Rendell said it was the best health care reform plan passed in any state, and it is good for doctors and hospitals as well as state residents. He said doctors and hospitals will be paid more than they receive from Medicaid.

Dr. Peter Lund, the president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society, said doctors don't like a provision that, in order to remain eligible for state help toward their malpractice insurance costs, they would be required to treat people covered by the new plan.