Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among 29 states that will offer such plans; residents of Delaware and 20 other states will be able to get coverage via plans run through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The federal government has allocated $5 billion to pay for the efforts, including $160 million in Pennsylvania, $141 million in New Jersey, and $13 million in Delaware.
"Full federal health reform is still three years away," Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario said in a statement. "In the meantime, we are doing everything we can for Pennsylvanians to have access to affordable, quality health care."
On Wednesday morning, Matt Stetson, 50, of the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, was at his computer when the Pennsylvania plan began taking applications.
After being laid off from a financial firm two years ago, Stetson had used COBRA to keep his coverage. Shortly before that was about to run out, he was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve, a birth defect that affects about 2 percent of Americans. It can lead to a range of cardiac problems, including congestive heart failure.
As a result, Stetson was turned down for an individual health insurance policy and has had no insurance for nearly a year.
On Wednesday, he was excited about the possibility of getting coverage at what he considers a reasonable monthly premium: $283 plus copayments and other fees.
Like many people, Stetson - a college graduate with a well-paying job for many years - never thought he would be uninsured or uninsurable.
"I lost a good job and then learned that I was born with this condition. It happened to me," he said. "This program will be a real lifesaver."
Pennsylvania initially plans to enroll 3,500 eligible residents in the program, dubbed PA Fair Care, on a first come, first served basis, with as many as 5,600 people by 2014.
