Protestors Demand Continuation of Adult Basic

A local health care coalition held a rally outside of Blue Cross offices on Market street, Wednesday afternoon, to protest the end of a health insurance plan for low and moderate income adults. As KYW's Michelle Durham reports, Blue Cross has said it will end Adult Basic coverage at the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2011.

Adult Basic covers Pennsylvanians whose income is 200 percent, or less, of the poverty level, for just $40 per month.

It was created in 2001, in part with funds from Pa.'s share of a tobacco lawsuit settlement and in part with contributions from Blue Cross as part of the Community Health Reinvestment Agreement.

That agreement is set to expire but Alison Hirsch of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (holding sign in photo) says it should be continued:

"Besides the 46,000 that are on the program, there are over 400,000 on the waiting list so that's a huge number of people."

(Photo by KYW's Michelle Durham)