MyFoxPhilly.com
December 13, 2010

Thousands Losing Health Coverage Jan. 1

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians will soon lose their health insurance.

Funding for the state run insurance program called Adult Basic will run out on December 31st.

The Adult Basic Health Insurance Program was funded by a 2002 settlement with tobacco companies and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. That fund is about to run dry and the state has started to warn people that if legislature does not decide to extend funding, the program is over.

The program was originally designed for those on lower income but are too young for Medicare and do not have access to other insurance.

Check out the numbers:

42,000 Pennsylvanians are on enrolled in Adult Basic.
460,000 are on a waiting list to get into the program.

That means almost ½ million people are out of luck.

Fox 29’s Chris O’Connell spoke to one patient who says it could mean some patients will have to choose between health insurance and putting food on the table.