Blues Insurers Will Extend Low-Cost Plans In Pa.

By Tony Romeo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's insurance commissioner says all four of the state's Blues companies have agreed to extend into next year their "Special Care" programs that had been targeted for cancellation at the end of December because they don't meet federal health care law requirements.

Insurance Commissioner Michael Consadine says continuation of the Blues' Special Care policies is significant, but he says all Pennsylvania residents who had policies cancelled should be hearing from their companies soon about options.

"It's going to vary from company. Special Care was a unique product in that it's a highly subsidized product that is geared towards those with pre-existing conditions. But commercial health insurance companies across the Commonwealth have also come up with options to really assist those policyholders who were looking potentially at being without coverage at the end of the year," Consadine said.

As for the extension of Special Care, Consadine says it will help "tens of thousands" of the estimated 250,000 Pennsylvanians who've had health insurance policies cancelled.