News today that Pennsylvania is withdrawing its Healthy PA Medical Assistance (Medicaid) plan for what should be a much more comprehensive and simpler Medicaid Expansion should be welcome news for the poor in Pennsylvania. Since Healthy PA was implemented, our Legal Aid office has been receiving calls about it from clients describing ways it was cutting their health care coverage. For example, one client diagnosed with lymphoma last fall found himself categorized by the state as not needing full coverage and was put into a new private insurance plan in the midst of his treatment. Potentially, that lesser plan would not have covered his treatment and the physical and mental health problems he developed due to his diagnosis. Under the “traditional” Medicaid Expansion the state is planning to choose, he should now be covered, as will many more of our clients suffering with HIV, cancer and disabilities who will more likely be able to live independently in the community.
As a teacher in the Temple Legal Aid Office, I have the chance with my students to watch the way the poor face life and how government decisions on how to help those seeking help really matter. Although Medicaid Expansion is a start
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