How to Get Health Insurance in Pennsylvania

Getting health insurance in Pennsylvania is easy. Many health insurance options are open to Pennsylvania residents of all ages, incomes and health situations. Most large commercial carriers offer plans in Pennsylvania, and there are several Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. The state of Pennsylvania also provides several state-sponsored plans, available for those meeting eligibility requirements. A health insurance agent can help you navigate through the variety of plans, You can also get this information on carrier and state websites.

Instructions

• 1

  Call an insurance agent with a license to sell insurance in Pennsylvania. If you do not know any agents, use the National Association of Health Underwriters' search feature to find an agent on their website. An agent will meet with you to understand your insurance needs and provide you with several insurance options. He will also assist you with the application process.

• 2

  Go online and visit several websites that provide online health insurance quotes. Websites such as ehealthinsurance and gohealthinsurance will provide you with several health insurance quotes after you provide your Pennsylvania zip code and a few additional pieces of information.

• 3

  Visit the website of your area Blue Cross Blue Shield plan--Highmark, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Blue Shield, Capital Blue Cross and Blue Shield, or Independence Blue Cross and Blue Shield--and of other national carriers such as Aetna and Cigna. Input your Pennsylvania zip code and answer a few questions on their websites to obtain a health insurance quote and apply online.

• 4

  Apply for state-sponsored programs such as Medicaid, offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (PA DPW), online through their Compass website (see Resource section) or directly at your county assistance office (see Resource section), or download the paper application and mail it to your local county assistance office. You will need to meet eligibility requirements to qualify for state plans. For more information, call PA DPW at 800-692-7462.

• 5

  Apply for the PA Fair Care health plan if you are a Pennsylvania resident who is uninsured and cannot obtain coverage due to a pre-existing medical condition. You must apply online (see Resource section) and you can call 888-767-7015 for more information about this health plan option.