Pennsylvania's Health Insurance Marketplace (Pennie)
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Pennie, Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace, established under the Affordable Care Act, helps individuals and families get the health coverage they need and allows them to determine if they qualify for financial assistance to reduce the cost.
Medicare ProgramMore Information Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals 65 years of age or older, under 65 with certain disabilities, and any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant).
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)More Information Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly income benefit for individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled, have limited income and assets, and meet additional requirements.
Social SecurityMore Information Social Security is a monthly income benefit for individuals in varied situations. Types of benefits include:
Social Security Retirement
Social Security Disability Insurance
Social Security Survivors
Unemployment Compensation (UC)More Information Unemployment Compensation (UC) is money paid to individuals who have lost a job through no fault of their own. It is temporary income meant to help make ends meet for qualified individuals who are actively seeking employment.
Veterans Affairs (VA)More Information The Office for Veterans Affairs (VA) provides services and assistance to veterans and their families. Programs include, but are not limited to:
Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption
Veterans Emergency Assistance
Educational Gratuity
Blind Veterans Pension
Paralyzed Veterans Pension
Persian Gulf Conflict Veterans Benefit Act
State Veterans Homes
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)More Information WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are determined to be at nutritional risk. The goal of the WIC program is to decrease the risk of poor birth outcomes and to improve the health of children during critical states of growth and development.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)More Information The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)More Information The Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, helps low-income families afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Housing can include single-family homes, townhouses and apartments, and is not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects. Housing Choice Vouchers are administered locally by Public Housing Agencies.
HUD Public Housing ProgramMore Information The Public Housing Program provides decent, safe, and low-cost rental housing for eligible low-income families, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. Public housing comes in all sizes and types, from scattered single family houses to highrise apartments for elderly families. Public housing is administered locally by Public Housing Agencies.
Head StartMore Information The Head Start program (for children ages 3-5) and Early Head Start program (for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers) promotes school readiness for children in low-income families by providing comprehensive educational, health, nutritional, and social services. Parents play a large role in the programs, both as primary educators of their children and as participants in administering the programs locally. Both programs provide pre-literacy and literacy experiences in a multi-cultural environment. Parents are also provided supports to assist them in setting and achieving family goals, including referrals for workforce development and childcare. Services are also available in some areas of the state for migrant and seasonal farm worker families.
Child SupportMore Information The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program provides services to locate absent parents, establish paternity and enforce support obligations. Individuals who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), also known as cash assistance, receive CSE services automatically. Individuals who are not receiving TANF can apply for child support services and any support collected goes directly to them. Services are available to a parent or primary caregiver of a child who has a parent living outside of the home.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)More Information The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families.
PA Pre-K CountsMore Information The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program, established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, makes quality pre-kindergarten opportunities available to children and families across the commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts program:
Is based on the quality components adopted for pre-kindergarten by the State Board of Education
Provides families in participating communities with a choice of quality pre-kindergarten options in a school, child care center, Head Start, or nursery school
Increases access to quality pre-kindergarten to children and families throughout the commonwealth with a priority in at-risk communities
Builds on the work of the Pre-K Counts Public-Private Partnership for Educational Success, a three-year project funded by leading Pennsylvania foundations and supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)More Information Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), also known as Waiver Programs, provide supports and services beyond those covered by Medical Assistance that enable an individual to remain in a community setting rather than in a Long Term Care Facility. Through COMPASS, individuals can apply for Long Term Living Home and Community Based Services and submit a referral for Early Intervention, Intellectual Disability or Adult Autism Services. Please see website for additional information on how to apply for other Home and Community Based Services.
PACEMore Information PACE, PACENET and PACE plus Medicare are Pennsylvania's prescription assistance programs that offer low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents, age 65 and older.
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