Millions of Pennsylvanians Could Lose Private Insurance, Study Shows

WASHINGTON, JULY 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An estimated 4.1 million
residents in Pennsylvania could lose their private, employer-based coverage if
Congress passes a House health reform bill, according to state-specific
analysis of The American Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 released this
week by The Heritage Foundation.

Heritage commissioned The Lewin Group, a highly respected health care policy
and management consulting firm, to examine the impact a newly created
government-run health plan within the House bill would have on Americans with
private health insurance, including employer-based coverage, as well as its
impact on Pennsylvania's doctors and hospitals.

In addition to examining the national impact, Lewin analyzed several states
including Pennsylvania to show how the major regions of the United States
would be affected. Lewin's estimates assume that all employers in the state
become eligible for enrollment in the new public plan and health insurance
exchange starting in the third year of implementation.

Of the estimated 7.6 million Pennsylvanians with private health insurance, 51
percent would transition out of private coverage, Lewin reports. Plus, 59
percent of the state's population who get their private insurance from the
workplace could have their existing coverage change or disappear under the
House health bill.

"The data highlights the nasty, unintended consequences a government-run
health insurance plan could have on states," said Heritage Vice President
Stuart Butler. "Many employees will be pushed into a public plan as employers
respond to the legislation's incentives to drop coverage."

Another key finding from Lewin:
-- 32 percent of Pennsylvania's uninsured population would still lack
coverage. Of the estimated 1.4 million people without health coverage,
the legislation would only reduce the uninsured by 952,600, leaving
447,400 Pennsylvania residents without coverage.

Read the entire study and find more health reform information at Heritage's
new Web site www.fixhealthcarepolicy.com.

SOURCE The Heritage Foundation

Heritage Media Services, +1-202-675-1761