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In spite of the pandemic, CCAG, in coalition with our state and national partners and Connecticut citizens, continues to take action on the our issue agenda -- including all we can to do to protect our health.
In Connecticut, undocumented immigrants are unable to access healthcare coverage. They can’t buy into AccessHealth CT, are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, and private insurance companies are either too expensive or outright reject applications from undocumented individuals.
Our families cannot seek the proper health care we need. With 120,000 estimated undocumented immigrants in our state, this is a massive public health concern, especially in a pandemic. But it doesn’t have to be this way!
CT must pass legislation to expand CT’s HUSKY Health program to all CT residents regardless of immigration status. Sign the Petition!
The 2022 legislative session is starting in February - we MUST show our legislators we support HUSKY Healthcare expansion to immigrant communities and urge them to introduce legislation and add funding into the budget for HUSKY expansion for immigrants.
Co-sponsored by:Building One Community, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), Connecticut Working Families, CT Immigrants Rights Alliance, CT Students for a Dream, Department of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, Hartford Deportation Defense / Colectivo de Defensa de Hartford, Medicare for All CT , Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, Uniting for a Safe Inclusive Community - Manchester
Our families cannot seek the proper health care we need. With 120,000 estimated undocumented immigrants in our state, this is a massive public health concern, especially in a pandemic. But it doesn’t have to be this way!
CT must pass legislation to expand CT’s HUSKY Health program to all CT residents regardless of immigration status. Sign the Petition!
The 2022 legislative session is starting in February - we MUST show our legislators we support HUSKY Healthcare expansion to immigrant communities and urge them to introduce legislation and add funding into the budget for HUSKY expansion for immigrants.
Co-sponsored by:Building One Community, Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), Connecticut Working Families, CT Immigrants Rights Alliance, CT Students for a Dream, Department of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, Hartford Deportation Defense / Colectivo de Defensa de Hartford, Medicare for All CT , Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, Uniting for a Safe Inclusive Community - Manchester
Connecticut’s Five Families
Health insurance companies are making billions by denying you care.
Five of them sent a letter to Governor Lamont in April, threatening to move jobs out of Connecticut if we passed a Public Option. It worked, and the Public Option was scrapped in the final days of the 2021 session.
CCAG is investigating, and bringing you information you need about the greed and profiteering of these companies.
Our latest report, Pandemic Profiteering: Making a Killing on COVID, finds that what these companies reported in profits, and spent on stock buybacks, could have funded the entire state of Connecticut for two years.
Our first report, on CEO compensation, showed that those five companies paid their CEOs $137.7 million in the last year. Our second, Games Insurers Play: How Low Will They Go?, explores the tactics and money spent in the 2021 legislative session. It shows that the industry, these Five Families, and dark money groups who don't disclose their donors spent at least $1.3 million lobbying in just six months.
By adding thousands of small businesses, nonprofits and individuals to the state's Partnership Plan, a Public Option would have offered affordable, quality coverage to tens of thousands of people. But it would have impeded the skyrocketing profits of the insurance industry. It's time our lawmakers listened to the people of Connecticut, rather than millionaire insurance executives.
Make sure to like, follow and share our new Five Families Facebook page, and click here to take action and sign up for updates.
Related News: No way to run a healthcare system. CT Viewpoints by Liz Dupont-Diehl- October 25, 2021
- This year’s open enrollment for health care period is from November 1, 2021, to January 15, 2022. Free help is available through Access Health CT, including navigators and application counselors.
- Covered Connecticut is a new option that Access Health CT offers. For those who qualify, there are $0 monthly costs and $0 out-of-pocket expenses.
- For many people, costs are lower now. Those who have considered coverage from Access Health CT in the past might be surprised by the current costs and would benefit from finding out their options.
- Quick Enrollment Information
- Online or by phone: Go to Access Health CT Annual Open Enrollment or call 1-855-805-4325
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- To learn more about Covered Connecticut, visit: https://help.accesshealthct.com/en_US/covered-connecticut-program
Health Care Victories from the 2021 Legislative Session:
VICTORY! SB1 AA Equalizing Comprehensive Access to Mental, Behavioral and Physical Health Care in Response to the Pandemic. This law officially declares racism as a public health crisis, standardizes the collection of race, ethnicity, and language data, and strengthens our community benefit regulations for hospitals.
While COVID has forced a greater focus on health disparities, there are still many structural issues that need to be addressed. This initiative looks at the structural issues behind the numbers and acknowledges the role of racism and white supremacy that perpetuates the long-standing inequities in our state.
Partial VICTORY. HB 6687 AAC Medical Assistance for Children and Adults Without Health Coverage. This will expand HUSKY health insurance to cover undocumented children ages 0-8, and provide postnatal care coverage for undocumented pregnant women, beginning in 2023. While we had started this fight to expand HUSKY healthcare for all undocumented persons, and other reforms including a Public Option, this bill provides critical coverage to children and mothers, and a pathway forward to continued expansion of healthcare for ALL of our community members.
Throughout 2021, and beyond, CCAG members and partners will continue to work to ensure all Connecticut residents have quality, affordable health care!
VICTORY! SB1 AA Equalizing Comprehensive Access to Mental, Behavioral and Physical Health Care in Response to the Pandemic. This law officially declares racism as a public health crisis, standardizes the collection of race, ethnicity, and language data, and strengthens our community benefit regulations for hospitals.
While COVID has forced a greater focus on health disparities, there are still many structural issues that need to be addressed. This initiative looks at the structural issues behind the numbers and acknowledges the role of racism and white supremacy that perpetuates the long-standing inequities in our state.
Partial VICTORY. HB 6687 AAC Medical Assistance for Children and Adults Without Health Coverage. This will expand HUSKY health insurance to cover undocumented children ages 0-8, and provide postnatal care coverage for undocumented pregnant women, beginning in 2023. While we had started this fight to expand HUSKY healthcare for all undocumented persons, and other reforms including a Public Option, this bill provides critical coverage to children and mothers, and a pathway forward to continued expansion of healthcare for ALL of our community members.
Throughout 2021, and beyond, CCAG members and partners will continue to work to ensure all Connecticut residents have quality, affordable health care!
This year's actions included:
Join health justice protestors on 3/26 in charging Cigna CEO David Cordani with pandemic profiteering, personally racking up $79 million- quadrupling his salary during the worst health crisis in a century. See details & sign up here
The protest will take place in Simsbury, Connecticut, on April 26. Protestors will gather at 2 Winslow Pl., in Simsbury by 4 pm.
We are calling out Mr. Cordani's efforts to block a public healthcare option for CT.
Attendees are required to wear masks and follow required COVID social distancing guidelines
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February 23rd, 7pm. Join Rep. Anne Hughes, Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, Rep. Jennifer Leeper, Sen. Will Haskell, and State Comptroller Kevin Lembo for a community forum on healthcare. This roundtable will focus on what values and principles should guide our healthcare system in Connecticut, the impact of COVID 19 on working families, and how a robust public option health insurance program can change our healthcare system for the better. Register for the Zoom here. Find this event on FB here. |
February 24th, 6pm- join CCAG for a health care roundtable with Comptroller Kevin Lembo, Senator Matt Lesser and Representative Amy Bello to hear how to support a Health Care Public Option here in Connecticut!
This roundtable will provide a space for people to share their health care related experiences and concerns, discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on working families across our state, and how a robust public option health insurance program can change our healthcare system for the better.
The event will be on zoom. RSVP to be sent the details!
Find this event on FB here
The Insurance & Real Estate Committee is holding a PUBLIC HEARING on Tuesday, Feb. 9th at 11 A.M. for SB 842- AAC Health Insurance and Health Care in Connecticut- a bill that makes health care equitable, dependable and affordable.
Here's how to take action:
Please email written testimony to: instestimony@cga.ct.gov in Word or PDF format
Individuals who wish to testify via Zoom must register here. Registration will close on Monday, February 8, at 3:00 P.M
If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone. To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at (860) 240-0411 to leave your contact information.
MORE INFORMATION: Please feel free to contact Ann.PrattCCAG@gmail.com or call 860-209-1234 with questions and comments.
Here's how to take action:
Please email written testimony to: instestimony@cga.ct.gov in Word or PDF format
Individuals who wish to testify via Zoom must register here. Registration will close on Monday, February 8, at 3:00 P.M
If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone. To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at (860) 240-0411 to leave your contact information.
MORE INFORMATION: Please feel free to contact Ann.PrattCCAG@gmail.com or call 860-209-1234 with questions and comments.
Now more than ever, we need to be talking about healthcare in our community. So we are having a live discussion! Join the Medicaid Strategy Group on Thursday, December 10th at 1:30pm for a HUSKY4MORE campaign launch event. We'll have a panel of exciting speakers discussing the importance of HUSKY/Medicaid and we'll let you know how you can take action for HUSKY4MORE. Join us via Facebook Live at Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut’s Facebook page,
ANNOUNCEMENT! Congratulations to all for a successful Special Session, your voices have been heard! Due to thousands of citizen's efforts the following legislation passed: HB 6001 An Act Concerning Telehealth: Early in the pandemic Governor Lamont signed an executive order allowing patients and health care providers to communicate over a broad range of platforms rather than risking exposure to the virus by meeting in person. That order would have expired in September if not legislated to continue. The bill passed unanimously by both the House and Senate will extend services until March of 2021. HB 6003 An Act Concerning Diabetes and High Deductible Health Plans: Will cap the cost of insulin and equipment for diabetics for anyone on a state-regulated insurance plan. This is a critical protection in the best of times and even more so in this time of crisis.The bill passed the House by a vote of 142-4. Passed the Senate 35 to 1, and will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. |
On Hold Due to Pandemic:
Connecticut small business owners and non-profit organizations are being crushed by skyrocketing health insurance premiums, deductibles, co-payments, and out-of-pocket expenses.
The relentlessly rising cost of health care is harming workers, families and our entire state economy.
The Connecticut Plan, (SB 346) a bill now before the state legislature-would fix this. If you know, work for, or are a small business owner or non-profit, can you sign this pledge of support today?
A Connecticut Plan will offer:
A Connecticut Plan just makes sense.Please take time to sign this pledge of support, and to take action today!
Download a fact sheet here.
The relentlessly rising cost of health care is harming workers, families and our entire state economy.
The Connecticut Plan, (SB 346) a bill now before the state legislature-would fix this. If you know, work for, or are a small business owner or non-profit, can you sign this pledge of support today?
A Connecticut Plan will offer:
- High-quality health care with affordable premiums & no high deductibles
- Multiple plan options to align with your budget and benefit needs
- No long-term commitments
- Dental insurance
- Stabilized costs by leveraging the market power of the state employee plan
A Connecticut Plan just makes sense.Please take time to sign this pledge of support, and to take action today!
Download a fact sheet here.
Medicaid Restoration. Last year CCAG and allies were able to help restore HUSKY A to roughly 4,000 working poor adults. While this was a great relief, it still left many with no coverage. We will be working to expand that restoration to parents of children enrolled this year.
Prescription Drug Prices: There are numerous bills being raised at this time. On the wide array of legislation being proposed will be putting a cap on out-of-pocket drug expenses and prohibiting insurers from mid-year bait and switch of covered drugs or moving list of covered drugs to a higher tier.
Hospital Community Benefits. CCAG is helping to advance statewide standards for benefits programs in the communities hospitals serve, to improve the health status of working families and populations at risk.
Prescription Drug Prices: There are numerous bills being raised at this time. On the wide array of legislation being proposed will be putting a cap on out-of-pocket drug expenses and prohibiting insurers from mid-year bait and switch of covered drugs or moving list of covered drugs to a higher tier.
Hospital Community Benefits. CCAG is helping to advance statewide standards for benefits programs in the communities hospitals serve, to improve the health status of working families and populations at risk.
Healthcare Solutions Under Consideration in 2019
HB 7267 AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC OPTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT.
To: Establish the ConnectHealth Program that will utilize purchasing power of the state to offer a quality health plan for small businesses by January of 2020, to individuals not eligible for subsidies by Fall of 2020, and to establish a planning process to explore a larger public option for 2021.
UPDATE! The bills to create new health insurance choices for small businesses, nonprofits and individuals, a CT public option (HB 7267 and SB 134), was passed by the Appropriations Committee and is now going to the House/Senate for action. More info here.
SB 902 AN ACT CONCERNING HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS.
To require certain high deductible health plans, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, to: (1) Apply annual deductibles on a calendar year basis; (2) prorate annual deductibles to reflect (A) the portion of the calendar year during which coverage under such plans is effective, and (B) a deduction for payments made by individuals covered under such plans while such individuals were covered under other high deductible health plans during such year; (3) provide deductions for in-network and out-of-network covered benefits; and (4) not apply (A) increased annual deductibles solely because such plans provide family coverage, or (B) annual deductibles that vary solely due to family size.
HB 7174 AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
To: (1) Establish the "Connecticut Prescription Drug Program" and the "Connecticut prescription drug program account"; (2) require pharmaceutical manufacturers to send notice to the Insurance Commissioner regarding "pay-for-delay" agreements, and require health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers to reduce the cost of brand name prescription drugs that are the subject of such agreements; (3) require the Comptroller to offer qualified private employers the option to purchase prescription drugs for their employees, employees' dependents and retirees through the Comptroller's purchasing authority; (4) prohibit any health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager from recouping any portion of a claim that such carrier or manager has paid to a pharmacy or pharmacist; and (5) establish a task force to study drug reimportation.
This bill was voted out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and is awaiting action on the floor to refer it out to any additional Committees,
HB 7164 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HUMAN SERVICES.
The Governor's budget recommendations in terms of health care does not include restoring HUSKY eligibility for parents up to 201% of the federal poverty level.
HB 7267 AN ACT CONCERNING PUBLIC OPTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT.
To: Establish the ConnectHealth Program that will utilize purchasing power of the state to offer a quality health plan for small businesses by January of 2020, to individuals not eligible for subsidies by Fall of 2020, and to establish a planning process to explore a larger public option for 2021.
UPDATE! The bills to create new health insurance choices for small businesses, nonprofits and individuals, a CT public option (HB 7267 and SB 134), was passed by the Appropriations Committee and is now going to the House/Senate for action. More info here.
SB 902 AN ACT CONCERNING HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS.
To require certain high deductible health plans, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law, to: (1) Apply annual deductibles on a calendar year basis; (2) prorate annual deductibles to reflect (A) the portion of the calendar year during which coverage under such plans is effective, and (B) a deduction for payments made by individuals covered under such plans while such individuals were covered under other high deductible health plans during such year; (3) provide deductions for in-network and out-of-network covered benefits; and (4) not apply (A) increased annual deductibles solely because such plans provide family coverage, or (B) annual deductibles that vary solely due to family size.
HB 7174 AN ACT CONCERNING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
To: (1) Establish the "Connecticut Prescription Drug Program" and the "Connecticut prescription drug program account"; (2) require pharmaceutical manufacturers to send notice to the Insurance Commissioner regarding "pay-for-delay" agreements, and require health carriers and pharmacy benefits managers to reduce the cost of brand name prescription drugs that are the subject of such agreements; (3) require the Comptroller to offer qualified private employers the option to purchase prescription drugs for their employees, employees' dependents and retirees through the Comptroller's purchasing authority; (4) prohibit any health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager from recouping any portion of a claim that such carrier or manager has paid to a pharmacy or pharmacist; and (5) establish a task force to study drug reimportation.
This bill was voted out of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee and is awaiting action on the floor to refer it out to any additional Committees,
HB 7164 AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HUMAN SERVICES.
The Governor's budget recommendations in terms of health care does not include restoring HUSKY eligibility for parents up to 201% of the federal poverty level.