Increase access to health care
“The people of Pennsylvania deserve quality, affordable, and readily accessible health care that meets the needs of their families and their communities."-Governor Tom Wolf
Why is this goal important?
More Pennsylvanians should have access to primary and preventative care, be able to see a doctor when they are sick, and avoid costly trips to the emergency room. Increased health care access leads to better health outcomes, which are essential to a productive workforce and a thriving economy. When more Pennsylvanians have access to preventative health services, state-supported health care costs go down.
What are we working on to reach this goal?
Since taking office, Governor Wolf has worked to improve health care access and increase affordable health care options for Pennsylvanians. In addition to expanding Medicaid and driving down the uninsured rate to the lowest it has ever been, the Wolf Administration has increased enrollment in the Children's Health Insurance Program, which now serves over 180,000 Pennsylvania children; and legalized medical marijuana, providing long-overdue relief to patients with serious medical conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s Disease. In a historic reform of Pennsylvania's health care system, Governor Wolf signed legislation creating a state-based health insurance exchange and a new reinsurance program, which will lower premiums and increase access to quality health insurance for Pennsylvanians.
How are we doing?
In 2015, Governor Wolf took action to provide health care coverage to more than 720,000 Pennsylvanians by expanding Medicaid. Since then, Pennsylvania's uninsured rate has declined year over year, reaching its lowest point ever in 2017. Meanwhile, the cost of uncompensated care has decreased as more Pennsylvanians gained health care coverage.
Related Measures
Medicaid Enrollment
Medical Assistance, Pennsylvania's Medicaid program, provides access to health care for millions of Pennsylvanians. When Governor Wolf expanded Medicaid, even more Pennsylvanians – including working Pennsylvanians who are not offered insurance through an employer, people living on low incomes, and people diagnosed with substance use disorder – gained access to quality health care.
Related Content
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