HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, said slots are filling up for PA Fair Care, a temporary health-care plan for uninsured adults in Pennsylvania with pre-existing conditions.
“Less than 1,000 slots remain open for eligible residents before a waiting list is created,” George said. “Only about 3,500 slots were available in the high-risk pool, which provides critical bridge coverage to uninsured residents until 2014, when federal reforms will prohibit discrimination based on health status.”
PA Fair Care’s benefits will include preventive care, physician services, diagnostic testing, hospitalization, mental health services and prescriptions. The cost is a monthly premium of $283.20, plus additional copayments and coinsurance.
Applications and information are available online at www.PAFairCare.com. Eligible Pennsylvanians without Internet access may apply with assistance by calling the toll-free helpline at (1) 888 767-7015 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
George also noted that higher college credit rates begin on Sept. 1.
“Families and students paying for higher education through the Pennsylvania 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan can take advantage of the lower, current-year rates by making additional contributions before September 1,” George said. “It’s never easy saving for college, especially in this economy, but waiting only compounds the difficulties.”
Enrollment information and forms to make additional investments to an existing 529 GSP account are available online at www.makecollegepossible.com. Completed forms may be sent with investments and any applicable fees to: Pennsylvania 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan Processing Center, P.O. Box 55463, Boston, MA 02205-8114.
Contributions sent by mail must be postmarked by Aug. 31 to take advantage of the current rates. Online contributions must be made by 4 p.m. Aug. 27. Customer service representatives are available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays by calling 1-800 440-4000 toll free. The e-mail is pagsp@patreasury.org.
“The credit rate for State System of Higher Education schools – which include Clarion and Lock Haven universities – will increase by 4.5 percent next month to almost $242,” George said. “This will bring the tuition costs for a 12-credit semester to slightly more than $2,900.”
George said the GSP credit rate for state-related schools – including Pitt and Penn State – will average more than $615 beginning Sept. 1and includes premiums
“Saving now or saving more now will reduce the debt burden once the student has graduated,” George said. “With federal stimulus money to universities set to expire next June — $249 million was allocated to the 14 state-owned schools and the state-related universities – even higher tuition costs cannot be ruled out.”