Pennsylvania representative proposes universal health care bill
State Rep. Greg Scott of Montgomery County has introduced the “Pennsylvania Universal Health Care Act,” a bill that aims to provide publicly funded health care coverage for all Pennsylvania residents with no out-of-pocket costs.
Scott said the plan is a comprehensive opt-in program funded by a combination of employer and employee contributions.
He described it as essentially a tax, with exclusions for individuals collecting Social Security, unemployment, or disability. The plan operates on a “pay as you earn” model, meaning those who earn more would pay more, while those earning less would pay less.
“This is simply a bill that says, hey, if you are a Pennsylvanian and you go to work or you are excluded because you have a disability, we believe that you should be able to afford quality insurance and that you should be able to go to the doctor,” Scott said. “If you get sick, you shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not you’re going to go bankrupt for going to the doctors.”
The bill now requires enough support from lawmakers to secure a hearing in the state House.