Public Safety Net Fills Gap for Many Families in Recession

Updated: August 2, 2010

In this recession, many Pennsylvania families are struggling to make ends meet. The state unemployment rate is at 9.2%, overall work hours are down and more people are losing their health insurance.

As a result, more Pennsylvanians are turning to the Commonwealth for help with basic necessities and health care for themselves and their children. The tables below show how safety net programs are filling the gap created by the economic slowdown in the private sector.

 

Cash Assistance, Food Stamps, Medical Assistance & CHIP

The following table tracks the growing demand for public health care and human services.

Safety Net Services Enrollment Numbers
  2000-2001 2007-2008 June 2010 % Change Since Re- cession Began Dec 07
Cash Assistance 286,432 265,936 284,126 7.25%
Food Stamps (Households) 345,068 551,097 762,447 39.00%
Food Stamps (Individuals) 754,554 1,171,858 1,620,657 38.75%
Medical Assistance 1,433,227 1,915,407 2,194,361 15.86%
Medical Assistance (Children) 713,997 980,575 1,106,638 13.99%
Children’s Health Insurance Program 104,564 167,583* 196,810 18.45%
Source. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (See the data)
* CHIP Program was expanded in the 2006-07 Fiscal Year.

Share of Pennsylvania Population Receiving Benefits (June 2010)
  Number of Residents % of Population
Cash Assistance 284,126 2.22%
Food Stamps 762,447 (households)
1,620,657 (individuals)		 12.90%
Medical Assistance 2,194,361 17.40%
Source. Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

AdultBasic

The adultBasic health insurance program, which was launched in 2002, provides affordable basic healthcare to Pennsylvanians between 19 and 65 who have no health insurance and who meet certain eligibility requirements. Learn more about adultBasic and concerns about future funding.

Since it is not an entitlement program, adultBasic has a waiting list. By comparing enrollment and waiting list figures in 2007-08 to those of today, it is clear that demand for this program has grown in the wake of the recession, while underfunding of the program combined with escalating health care costs have reduced the number of Pennsylvanians enrolled in the program.

adultBasic Enrollment/Waiting List Numbers
  2007-2008 June 2010 % Change Since Re- cession Began Dec 07
adultBasic Enrollment 50,172 45,927 -10.05%
adultBasic Waiting List 91,543 397,671 315.76%
Source. Pennsylvania Department of Insurance (See the data)

AdultBasic Enrollment By County
June 2010
(click on image for PDF)


Waiting List By County (click on image)