1Amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2Statutes, providing for health insurance coverage not
3required.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Title 40 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

8§ 102. Health insurance coverage not required.

9(a) General.--No resident of this Commonwealth, regardless
10of whether he has or is eligible for health insurance coverage
11under any policy or program provided by or through his employer,
12or a plan sponsored by the Federal Government or the
13Commonwealth, shall be required to obtain or maintain a policy
14of individual insurance coverage except as required by a court
15or the Department of Public Welfare where an individual is named
16a party in a judicial or administrative proceeding. No provision
17of any law shall render a resident of this Commonwealth liable
18for any penalty, assessment, fee or fine as a result of his

1failure to procure or obtain health insurance coverage.

2(b) Applicability.--This section shall not apply to:

3(1) Individuals voluntarily applying for coverage under
4a State-administered program under Title XIX of the Social
5Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396-1396v) or XXI
6of the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. §§
71397aa-1397mm).

8(2) Students being required by an institution of higher
9education to obtain and maintain health insurance as a
10condition of enrollment.

11(c) Rights.--Nothing in this section shall impair the rights
12of persons to privately contract for health insurance for family
13members or former family members.

14Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.