Pennsylvania adds to Medicaid expansion hotline staff
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania state officials say they’re increasing the number of people on a hotline to help people apply for coverage under the 2010 federal health care law’s Medicaid expansion.
A state Department of Human Services spokeswoman says staffing through a call center contractor rose from 55 to about 130 after receiving complaints that many people were not getting through to anyone.
Enrollment began Monday and spokeswoman Kait Gillis says the state received more than 11,500 household applications on Monday and Tuesday.
People can enroll online at www.compass.state.pa.us or by calling 866-550-4355 or by going into a county assistance office.
Coverage begins Jan. 1, and state officials say some 600,000 low-income adults are newly eligible, although some adults may have coverage already through other programs.
For more information about Healthy PA, check out Transforming Health’s Getting Covered: The Affordable Care Act in PA. The updated multimedia guide helpsusers understand Healthy Pennsylvania, Governor Corbett’s alternative to expanding Medicaid, approved by the federal government.
This article appeared originally on witf.org.
