Pa. passes 100K Medicaid expansion applications

More than 100,000 applications for coverage under Pennsylvania’s expanding Medicaid program have now been received by the state.

The state Department of Human Services said household applications passed the 100,000 mark ahead of Thursday’s start of coverage in Pennsylvania under the 2010 federal health care law’s Medicaid expansion.

Enrollment began Dec. 1.

Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration says some 600,000 adults Pennsylvanians are newly eligible for the coverage. Those newly eligible include childless adults earning up to $15,600 this year. More parents also are eligible, depending on income and children.

Previously, able-bodied adults under 65 weren’t eligible for Medicaid, unless they had practically no income.

They can choose from Medicaid-funded insurance plans offered by eight insurers across nine geographic regions. Sicker people will be moved into the existing Medicaid program.