Pennsylvania House Democrats Pitch Single-Payer Bill Amid Premium Spikes
Pennsylvania Rep. Greg Scott and other Democratic lawmakers are pushing House Bill 2763, a single-payer universal coverage proposal mirroring Senate Bill 1465, as employer health costs are projected to rise 8.2% in 2027, the steepest jump since 2003. The bill would replace employer and employee premium spending with a 7.5% employer payroll tax and 2.5% employee tax, eliminating deductibles and copays, though employers could cover both shares. The push comes as Pennsylvania small-business groups like NFIB warn that rising costs are becoming unsustainable, and as states like Oregon and New York study similar single-payer models, with a RAND analysis finding New York's version could cover all residents but would require substantial new tax revenue. The article also notes that Pennsylvania hospitals earn roughly 30% more per Medicaid discharge than per Medicare discharge, underscoring Medicaid's lower relative reimbursement within the broader cost debate.