--- title: 2.25.26 House Hearing w/ Pennsylvania Insurance Department & Pennie description: Insightful summary of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and Pennie's budget hearing, covering key legislative topics, consumer protection efforts, and economic impacts. image: https://support.thedtfirm.com/hubfs/DT%20Firm%2010%202025%20web%2001.jpg --- ![](https://support.thedtfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DT%20Firm%2010%202025%20web%2001.jpg?width=2400&height=1597&name=DT%20Firm%2010%202025%20web%2001.jpg) Budget Related # 2.25.26 House Hearing w/ Pennsylvania Insurance Department & Pennie ![The DT Firm](https://support.thedtfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/website/image/dt-favicon.png?width=48&height=48&name=dt-favicon.png) The DT Firm February 26, 2026 **Pennsylvania Insurance Department & Pennie: ****House Budget Hearing Summary** **Overview & Structure** The committee convened its final hearing of the day with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) and Pennie (Pennsylvania’s ACA marketplace). Commissioner Mike Humphries and Pennie’s Executive Director were sworn in and delivered opening statements, followed by member questioning. Chairman Harris and members acknowledged that PID is funded separately from the General Fund through fees deposited into the Insurance Regulation and Oversight Fund (IROF). However, members noted PID’s broader fiscal impact due to oversight of the state’s insurance markets. --- **Opening Statements** **Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID)** Commissioner Humphries emphasized that: **Operational Highlights (2025 Activity)** Commissioner Humphries highlighted process efficiencies including paperless filings, licensing templates, and elimination of unnecessary fees. --- **Pennie (Pennsylvania ACA Marketplace)** The Executive Director reported: Pennie warned of broader impacts: Pennie referenced—but noted the absence of funding for—a proposed state-level affordability program to mitigate premium impacts. --- **Major Legislative & Policy Topics Discussed** **1. Rate Oversight & Premium Increases** **Question:** How is PID protecting consumers from excessive or discriminatory rate hikes following the loss of enhanced premium tax credits? **PID Response:** PID also noted that approximately 3.5–4% of projected increases reflect worsening risk pools as healthier individuals exit coverage. --- **2. Maternal Health & Women’s Coverage** Representative Mays asked about essential coverage for women and survey results. **PID Response:** Pennie noted: --- **3. Public Adjuster Licensing Reform** The House unanimously passed legislation reforming the Public Adjuster Licensing Act (referenced during hearing). **PID supported key provisions:** PID described cases where high fees left homeowners unable to fully repair properties. --- **4. Navigator vs. Broker Licensing Standards** A member questioned why Pennie navigators/assisters are not required to hold producer licenses. **Pennie Response:** --- **5. Uninsurance & Downstream Health System Impacts** Members asked about fiscal and system impacts of coverage losses. **Responses from PID and Pennie:** Example cited: New Mexico fully backfilled enhanced credits and saw a 14% enrollment increase. --- **6. Mental Health Access & “Any Willing Behavioral Health Provider”** Members raised network exits and access barriers. **PID described draft legislation:** Network adequacy review updates: --- **7. Prescription Cost-Sharing & Accumulator Programs** Governor’s proposed legislation discussed to ensure: PID acknowledged federal uncertainty around accumulator rules but affirmed policy goal that actual consumer payments should count toward cost-sharing limits. --- **8. Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Oversight (Act 77 of 2024)** Members asked about enforcement status. **PID reported:** --- **9. Homeowner Insurance & AI Roof Surveillance** Representative Nelson raised concerns about AI/aerial imagery used to identify roof aging and threaten cancellation. **PID Response:** --- **10. Autism Classification & Coverage** A member questioned classification of autism. **PID Response:** --- **Additional Administrative Notes** --- **Key Factual Takeaways** ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fsupport.thedtfirm.com%2Fdts-budget-blog%2F2.25.26-house-hearing-w%2F-pennsylvania-insurance-department-pennie](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fsupport.thedtfirm.com%2Fdts-budget-blog%2F2.25.26-house-hearing-w%2F-pennsylvania-insurance-department-pennie) ## Keep reading [![](https://support.thedtfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/PSP.jpg?width=225&height=225&name=PSP.jpg) PSP Budget Related ### 3.11.26 - House Budget Hearing Pennsylvania State Police ](https://support.thedtfirm.com/dts-budget-blog/3.11.26-house-budget-hearing-pennsylvania-state-police) [![](https://support.thedtfirm.com/hs-fs/hubfs/OOB2-1.png?width=847&height=460&name=OOB2-1.png) Budget Related OOB ### 3.12.26 - House Budget Hearing - Governor's Budget Office ](https://support.thedtfirm.com/dts-budget-blog/3.12.26-house-budget-hearing-governors-budget-office) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "The DT Firm", "url" : "https://support.thedtfirm.com/dts-budget-blog/author/the-dt-firm" }, "dateModified" : "2026-02-26T20:59:02.553Z", "datePublished" : "2026-02-26T20:58:46.000Z", "headline" : "2.25.26 House Hearing w/ Pennsylvania Insurance Department & Pennie", "image" : [ "https://support.thedtfirm.com/hubfs/DT%20Firm%2010%202025%20web%2001.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://support.thedtfirm.com/dts-budget-blog/2.25.26-house-hearing-w/-pennsylvania-insurance-department-pennie", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://support.thedtfirm.com/hubfs/website/image/logo-DT-firm.png" }, "name" : "The DT Firm" } } ```