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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 10, 2024 03:26 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Vincent J. Hughes and Sen. Patty Kim, Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, Sen. Amanda M. Cappelletti, Sen. Maria Collett, Sen. Carolyn T. Comitta, Sen. Jay Costa, Sen. Marty Flynn, Sen. Wayne D. Fontana, Sen. Art Haywood, Sen. John I. Kane, Sen. Timothy P. Kearney, Sen. Nick Miller, Sen. Katie J. Muth, Sen. Nick Pisciottano, Sen. Steven J. Santarsiero, Sen. Nikil Saval, Sen. Judith L. Schwank, Sen. Sharif Street, Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione, Sen. Anthony H. Williams, Sen. Lindsey M. Williams |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Prohibiting Annual or Lifetime Limits on Health Insurance Policies |
| In the near future, we plan on re-introducing Senate Bill 52 from last session which prohibits health insurance policies within the Commonwealth from imposing either an annual or lifetime limit. President-elect Trump campaigned on a promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which includes many popular provisions that have saved lives across the Commonwealth. Court rulings in conservative judicial districts have also jeopardized these protections. Nearly 15 years after enactment the ACA and its important provisions remain fragile. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance companies could impose annual or lifetime limits on coverage for health insurance policies. It is estimated that prior to the federal prohibition on annual and lifetime limits, nearly 102 million Americans nationwide had a health insurance policy that was subject to either an annual or lifetime limit. Once these limits were reached, a policy holder or their family would be required to pay 100% of medical expenses out of pocket. This saddled individuals and families with debt and forced some to declare bankruptcy. Annual or lifetime limits typically affect individuals with chronic medical conditions, such as cancer, mental illness, or addiction, that require constant treatment and drug therapies. According to estimates from the Departments of Human Services and Insurance, 4.5 million Pennsylvanians have benefited from the Federal prohibition on annual and lifetime limits. Under our legislation, insurance policies sold or renewed in the Commonwealth, after the effective date of the bill, may not include an annual or lifetime limit. By placing these protections in state law, we will ensure they survive future litigation relating to the constitutionality of the ACA as well as changes in policies at the Federal level. Please join us in ensuring Pennsylvania law provides this important protection for the Commonwealth’s residents. If you have any questions, please contact our office. |