Health Care
In spite of the pandemic, CCAG, in coalition with our state and national partners and Connecticut citizens, continues to take action on our issue agenda - including all we can do to protect our health.
February 21 Healthcare Hearings
Human Services Committee Hearing, 11 am: HB 991, An Act Concerning Medicaid Reimbursement for Community Health Workers. Community health workers are known to be extremely effective in conveying critical health and wellness information - yet too many providers struggle to fund these critical positions, often relying on grants which are inherently time-limited.
Please submit written testimony in Word or PDF format here. Our partners, Health Equity Solutions, have provided testimony templates here, and Fact Sheets, here.
If you plan to testify via zoom or in person, register using this Online Testimony Registration Form by 3:00 P.M. Feb. 20th.The first hour of the hearing is reserved for public officials. Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony. The public hearing can be viewed via YouTube Live.
Insurance and Real Estate Committee Hearing, 2:30 pm
Bills being heard include;
- HB 983, An Act Limiting Anticompetitive Healthcare Practices, and HB 6620, An Act Promoting Competition in Contracts Between Health Carriers and Health Care Providers.
- HB 6629 would require a waiver from the Insurance Commissioner for anti-competitive practices including any an all-or-nothing clauses, anti-steering clauses, or gag clauses.
Click here to submit written testimony. The public hearing can be viewed via YouTube Live and CT-N.com. Anyone wishing to testify must register using the On-line Testimony Registration Form by 3:00 P.M. February 20th. To register to testify by phone, call 860-240-0510 to leave your contact information.
All of these bills are important. Join us in demanding that the health care profiteers -- health insurance companies, pharma, and hospitals engaging in anticompetitive practices -– are held to account.
We need these bills, and beyond them – a review of the greedy practices of the health insurance industry. Demand that our taxes and premium dollars go towards keeping people healthy – not deepening inequality by making rich shareholders even more wealthy.
Just imagine if health insurance companies had paid for community health workers during COVID - instead of raking in billions in profits and spending billions more buying back their own stock.
In addition to testifying Tuesday, please like and share the Connecticut’s Five Families facebook page for continuing news of health insurance greed, and check out our update last August on their 2021 stock buybacks, executive pay, and obscene profits.
Share Your Health Care Story!
Many of us are not able to access health care, experiencing medical debt or high co-pays and deductibles, or unable to access insurance or health care at all.
CCAG wants to hear your story.
Fill out this form to schedule an appointment with a CCAG organizer. We will protect your privacy, and you can share your story anonymously if you wish.
We will use your stories to tell lawmakers that enough is enough, and demand they prioritize your health over the greed of the healthcare system.
We will also keep you updated about bills this legislative session on these issues, and of opportunities to take action this year and beyond.
CCAG wants to hear your story.
Fill out this form to schedule an appointment with a CCAG organizer. We will protect your privacy, and you can share your story anonymously if you wish.
We will use your stories to tell lawmakers that enough is enough, and demand they prioritize your health over the greed of the healthcare system.
We will also keep you updated about bills this legislative session on these issues, and of opportunities to take action this year and beyond.
Connecticut's 5 Families Campaign
Health insurance companies are making billions by denying you care.
Five of them sent this letter to Governor Lamont in April 2021, 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 legislative session.
CCAG is investigating, and bringing you information you need about the greed and profiteering of these companies.
Three initial reports exposed hundreds of millions diverted from health care to CEO pay, lobbying expenses, and profits and stock buybacks.
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. Finally, 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.
CCAG updated these in August of 2022, showing Billions Spent on Stock Buybacks, Profits, and Executive Compensation by Health Insurance Companies Seeking Double Digit Rate Increases.
By adding thousands of small businesses and nonprofits to the state's Partnership Plan, the Public Option proposed in 2021 would have offered affordable, quality coverage to tens of thousands of people. Health insurance companies would still have had work administering the plan -- 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 Five Families Facebook page, share your health care story, and click here to take action and sign up for updates.
Five of them sent this letter to Governor Lamont in April 2021, 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 legislative session.
CCAG is investigating, and bringing you information you need about the greed and profiteering of these companies.
Three initial reports exposed hundreds of millions diverted from health care to CEO pay, lobbying expenses, and profits and stock buybacks.
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. Finally, 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.
CCAG updated these in August of 2022, showing Billions Spent on Stock Buybacks, Profits, and Executive Compensation by Health Insurance Companies Seeking Double Digit Rate Increases.
By adding thousands of small businesses and nonprofits to the state's Partnership Plan, the Public Option proposed in 2021 would have offered affordable, quality coverage to tens of thousands of people. Health insurance companies would still have had work administering the plan -- 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 Five Families Facebook page, share your health care story, and click here to take action and sign up for updates.
CCRG is helping improve Medicaid
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CCRG has partnered with People’s Action Inc. and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in a nationwide survey. We are looking to interview anyone who has received or applied for HUSKY or CHIP since 2018.
The results will be used to improve the experience and provide better coverage for people. We are also looking for the opportunity to table at events. Please contact: CCAG Organizer, Quanisha Flippen |
CCAG Health Care Coalitions
CCAG co-chairs the Medicaid Strategy Group, a coalition of health advocates working together to improve and defend the quality and reach of HUSKY programs in Connecticut through administrative and legislative advocacy. Medicaid is a vital source of health insurance for low-income families. Connecticut has a robust Medicaid program that should allow more people in the state to get the health care they need. For more information, contact CCAG Organizer Quanishe Flippen.
CCAG is also a member of Husky4Immigrants, a coalition of organizations around Connecticut fighting for policies to expand healthcare access to all immigrants regardless of status, and to open eligibility to the HUSKY health program. CCAG and members have succeeded in making HUSKY insurance available to undocumented children aged 13 and under who are eligible, and secured it through age 18. It is a victory - but we will not stop fighting until all Connecticut residents have affordable, quality health care! For more information, visit facebook.com/HUSKY4IMMIGRANTS/
CCAG is also part of other coalition efforts for other related issues, including lowering the cost of prescription drugs, battling the commodification of health care, promoting a public option, and ensuring all Connecticut residents have quality, affordable health care.
CCAG is also a member of Husky4Immigrants, a coalition of organizations around Connecticut fighting for policies to expand healthcare access to all immigrants regardless of status, and to open eligibility to the HUSKY health program. CCAG and members have succeeded in making HUSKY insurance available to undocumented children aged 13 and under who are eligible, and secured it through age 18. It is a victory - but we will not stop fighting until all Connecticut residents have affordable, quality health care! For more information, visit facebook.com/HUSKY4IMMIGRANTS/
CCAG is also part of other coalition efforts for other related issues, including lowering the cost of prescription drugs, battling the commodification of health care, promoting a public option, and ensuring all Connecticut residents have quality, affordable health care.
Health Insurance Companies Seek Even Greater Profits
Health insurance companies sought to raise your rates an average of 20% -- while spending billions on executive pay, buying back their own stock, and profits for already rich shareholders.
CCAG spoke out at a press conference and at the CT Insurance Department's hearing in August, and greeted lawmakers with a reminder that Insurance Greed Kills as they entered the public hearing. Advocates and lawmakers cited our report as they challenged the requested increases.
The Insurance Department allowed increases less than the requested amount - but still too much, given that these increases come at the expense of your care. Join the fight - Share Your Health Care Story today!
CCAG spoke out at a press conference and at the CT Insurance Department's hearing in August, and greeted lawmakers with a reminder that Insurance Greed Kills as they entered the public hearing. Advocates and lawmakers cited our report as they challenged the requested increases.
The Insurance Department allowed increases less than the requested amount - but still too much, given that these increases come at the expense of your care. Join the fight - Share Your Health Care Story today!
2022: Health care for children
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.
Health care is a human right. We can and must to better.
The HUSKY for Immigrants coalition won coverage for pregnant woman ,and children aged 13 and under, who are not documented, beginning in January of 2023. These children will not lose coverage when they turn 18. It is not enough - we will fight until all people have quality, affordable health care.
Health care is a human right. We can and must to better.
The HUSKY for Immigrants coalition won coverage for pregnant woman ,and children aged 13 and under, who are not documented, beginning in January of 2023. These children will not lose coverage when they turn 18. It is not enough - we will fight until all people have quality, affordable health care.
Access Health CT Enrollment
- 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: Go to Access Health CT Annual Open Enrollment
- 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
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Connecticut Citizen Action Group, 30 Arbor Street Ste 107, Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 233-2181 - action@ccag.net
(860) 233-2181 - action@ccag.net