This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Health Care Insurance Plans in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Health Benefits Advisor
The Health Benefits Advisor from the United States Department of Labor is designed to help workers and their families better understand their rights and responsibilities when they face life or work events that affect their health care benefits. It also provides general information on the laws that may apply when an employee or a member of an employee's family faces a life or work event that affects group health plan benefits.
Health Plans & Benefits
Information from the U.S. Department of Labor on Group Health Plans, which are employee welfare benefit plans established or maintained by an employer or by an employee organization (such as a union), or both, that provides medical care for participants or their dependents directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise.
Newborns and Mother Protection (Newborn's Act)
Information from the United States Department of Labor about maternity and newborn coverage in health care plans. The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act (Newborns' Act) includes important protections for mothers and their newborn children with regard to the length of the hospital stay following childbirth. The Newborns' Act requires that group health plans that offer maternity coverage pay for at least a 48-hour hospital stay following childbirth (96-hour stay in the case of Cesarean section).
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
Termination
If you've lost your job, you have certain rights, such as the right to continue your health care coverage and, in some cases, the right to unemployment compensation. Here is some information on those rights from the United States Department of Labor.
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Protections
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) includes protections for individuals who elect breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy. WHCRA provides that group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide coverage for medical and surgical benefits with respect to mastectomies must also cover certain post-mastectomy benefits, including reconstructive surgery and the treatment of complications (such as lymphedema).
Your Employer's Bankruptcy - How Will It Affect Your Employee Benefits?
Information from the United States Department of Labor on how your retirement and health benefits might be affected when your employer files for bankruptcy. (November 2016)
PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258
The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org. The Toll Free Helpline is open on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning at 8:00 AM Eastern.
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
PA Health Law Project Toll-Free Helpline - Call: 1-800-274-3258
The PA Health Law Project provides free legal services and advocacy to Pennsylvanians having trouble accessing publicly funded health care coverage or services. For assistance, call the PHLP Helpline at 1-800-274-3258 or 1-866-236-6310 TTY or e-mail the PHLP at staff@phlp.org. Information from the PHLP is also available online at www.phlp.org. The Toll Free Helpline is open on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning at 8:00 AM Eastern.
Continuation of Health Coverage - COBRA
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102% of the cost to the plan.
Coverage for Young Adults - Young Adults and the Affordable Care Act: Protecting Young Adults and Eliminating Burdens on Families and Businesses
Information from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the Affordable Care Act provisions that allow young adults to stay on their parents' health care plan until age 26.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act - ERISA
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
Health Benefits Advisor
The Health Benefits Advisor from the United States Department of Labor is designed to help workers and their families better understand their rights and responsibilities when they face life or work events that affect their health care benefits. It also provides general information on the laws that may apply when an employee or a member of an employee's family faces a life or work event that affects group health plan benefits.
Health Plans & Benefits
Information from the U.S. Department of Labor on Group Health Plans, which are employee welfare benefit plans established or maintained by an employer or by an employee organization (such as a union), or both, that provides medical care for participants or their dependents directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise.
If You Are Self-Employed
Fact Sheet from the Social Security Administration for people who are self-employed regarding paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, earning credits, calculating net earnings, and more. (2025)
Newborns and Mother Protection (Newborn's Act)
Information from the United States Department of Labor about maternity and newborn coverage in health care plans. The Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act (Newborns' Act) includes important protections for mothers and their newborn children with regard to the length of the hospital stay following childbirth. The Newborns' Act requires that group health plans that offer maternity coverage pay for at least a 48-hour hospital stay following childbirth (96-hour stay in the case of Cesarean section).
Pennie - Pennsylvania's Health Care Marketplace
Pennie provides information on health care coverage available and how to sign up. All Pennsylvanians can search and choose coverage from November to January 15. After January 15th, folks who experience a Qualifying Life Event are still eligible to apply for financial assistance and shop for health insurance. Visit their website to learn more on qualifying life events.
Portability of Health Coverage (HIPAA)
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides rights and protections for participants and beneficiaries in group health plans. HIPAA includes protections for coverage under group health plans that prohibit discrimination against employees and dependents based on their health status; and allow a special opportunity to enroll in a new plan to individuals in certain circumstances.
Retirement Plans-Benefits & Savings
Information from the United States Department of Labor regarding retirement plans offered by your employer.
Termination
If you've lost your job, you have certain rights, such as the right to continue your health care coverage and, in some cases, the right to unemployment compensation. Here is some information on those rights from the United States Department of Labor.
Women's Health and Cancer Rights Protections
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA) includes protections for individuals who elect breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy. WHCRA provides that group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide coverage for medical and surgical benefits with respect to mastectomies must also cover certain post-mastectomy benefits, including reconstructive surgery and the treatment of complications (such as lymphedema).
Your Employer's Bankruptcy - How Will It Affect Your Employee Benefits?
Information from the United States Department of Labor on how your retirement and health benefits might be affected when your employer files for bankruptcy. (November 2016)