I received this information from Erin Gill at PA Fair Care:

Here is the information on PA Fair Care, the new insurance option for folks who have been denied coverage in the past due to pre-existing conditions. We want to make sure folks know this program is available and encourage everyone that’s eligible to apply right away—enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis, and the program will only be accepting roughly 3500 enrollees this year. It’s expected to cover up to 6,000 Pennsylvanians as a bridge to when federal reform is fully implemented and the state insurance exchange will be up and running in 2014. (See more details in today’s Post-Gazette: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10215/1077193-114.stm).

In addition to getting folks to apply for PA Fair Care, we’re also looking for people willing to speak to the press and share their health care story—to talk about what it was like to have been denied and what having this new option will mean for them and their ability to get the care they need. If anyone is interested in participating in a statewide press conference call with reporters happening tomorrow afternoon, they should get in touch with me right away.

If anyone has questions, they can call me directly at 412-512-9225 or email me at: egill@pahealthaccess.org. PHAN is hosting a conference call tomorrow morning (10am, Wednesday 8/4) for folks interested in learning more about the new insurance plan—all the details are below. Thanks again for sending this around—I hope word gets out far and wide!