The Pennsylvania Insurance Department has begun issuing letters notifying enrollees in the adultBasic program of the end of their coverage and offering information about other health care coverage options.

The adultBasic health coverage program, which offers a low-cost source of health insurance to adult Pennsylvanians, does not have funding to provide coverage to enrollees beyond February 28, 2011 . As a result, the program and coverage of all current enrollees will end on February 28, 2011.

The Insurance Department urges those with adultBasic coverage who have doctor appointments or medical procedures scheduled after Feb. 28, 2011 to immediately contact their doctor or medical provider to reschedule their appointments before coverage ends.

Those limited number of adultBasic enrollees who may be receiving inpatient treatment on February 28 will continue to have coverage until they are discharged or for 90 days after coverage has ended (whichever comes first).

The letters also offer information about other health care coverage options that may be available to current adultBasic enrollees. Those options include:

• Medical Assistance
  You may apply at www.compass.state.pa.us to see if you qualify for Medical Assistance (MA) or contact your local public assistance office.
   
• Medicare
  If you have turned 65, are disabled or meet other eligibility, you may qualify for Medicare. You may apply online for Medicare online at http://www.ssa.gov/medicareonly.
   
• SpecialCare℠
  Pennsylvania’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans offer SpecialCare, a subsidized health insurance plan for individuals and families. Eligibility for SpecialCare is similar to that for adultBasic, although SpecialCare differs from adultBasic both in the level of benefits and the cost. To simplify the transition from adultBasic to SpecialCare, the Blue plans have agreed to waive pre-existing condition exclusions for adultBasic members who enroll directly into SpecialCare by May 2, 2011. For more information or to enroll in SpecialCare, contact the plan that provides services in your county.
   
• Employer-based Coverage
  You may have the option to select coverage provided through your employer, or another family member’s employer if applicable. In many cases, an employer subsidizes the cost of such coverage.
   
• PA Fair Care
  PA Fair Care is Pennsylvania’s health insurance program for uninsured people with preexisting medical conditions. To be eligible, the federal Affordable Care Act says you must be uninsured for six months and have a pre‐existing condition. For information on PA Fair Care visit www.PAFairCare.com or call 1-888-767-7015.

If you would like more information on the expiration of your adultBasic coverage and your health insurance alternatives, please call 1-800-GO-BASIC (1-800-462-2742) Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. or visit the Frequently Asked Question page created by the Department where you can chat online with an adultBasic representative.