How to Apply for Adult Basic Health Insurance in Pennsylvania

For adults between the ages of 19 and 65, adultBasic, which began in 2002, provides an affordable and quality health care solution. According to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, "To date, more than 96,000 Pennsylvanians have received health care coverage with adultBasic." A wait list for the program exists because of the high volume of applicants. Adults who meet the eligibility criteria and wish to secure a place on the wait list should apply when they are aware coverage will be needed. In 2009 and 2010, adults who received offers from the wait list had been waiting about three years.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone or Internet access
• Driver's license (if applicant has one)
• Social Security card
• Pay stubs or W-2 from most recent year
• Identification information for any other household member
• Income information for any other household member

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Determine your eligibility. Applicants must be between 19 and 65. Adults who apply may not be covered by Medicaid, Medicare nor any other type of health insurance. No other health coverage may have been in effect within 90 days preceding the date of application unless coverage was lost due to a job loss. Income for applicants must fall within the limits outlined. Coverage is offered only to those people who have been Pennsylvania residents for at least 90 days. U.S. citizenship is required.

• 2

  Apply online if Internet access is available. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Access to Social Services website, COMPASS, provides an application that applies to all the public assistance programs, including adultBasic, available in the state. Applicants can select the programs they are applying for, as no individual application for adultBasic is available online. The application will ask for personal identification information, employment information, income amounts and information for other people living in the household. The income of other household members may not affect the outcome of the application unless one of those people is a spouse or parent. Benefits are determined based on household income level, so spousal and parental income may be considered. The income limits go up for each person living in the household, so even if a parent or spouse is considered, the income level permitted will rise with each person.

• 3

  Call the adultBasic hot line to apply by phone or to request a paper application if Internet access is not available. The toll-free number is 866-GO-BASIC (as of June 2010).