Category: State News

Access Health CT’s Open Enrollment Period is November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais today announced that the open enrollment period for Connecticut residents seeking to enroll in health insurance plans for 2025 with Access Health CT, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, has begun effective this morning and continues through January 15, 2025.

Governor Lamont and Commissioner Mais are encouraging anyone in need of coverage or considering changing their coverage to take full advantage of this open enrollment period to research their options. This open enrollment period provides individuals and families the opportunity to review, compare, and select health and dental insurance plans for the upcoming year.

Consumers who enroll by December 15, 2024, will have coverage that begins January 1, 2025. Those who enroll between December 16, 2024, and January 15, 2025, will have coverage that begins February 1, 2025.

“I strongly urge any Connecticut resident who does not have health insurance to research Access Health CT’s options and enroll before the January 15, 2025, deadline,” Governor Lamont said. “Connecticut has a nation-leading health insurance marketplace that is delivering significant results in helping to reduce the uninsured rate and getting coverage to those who need it. Access Health CT has the support services available to help anyone fully understand their options and get them enrolled.”

Consumers can seek guidance from certified brokers, enrollment specialists, or Access Health CT’s online and in-person resources to help navigate the selection process. Throughout the open enrollment period, Access Health CT is organizing enrollment fairs and working with Navigator partners across the state to offer hands-on assistance to those enrolling or renewing their plans.

“Open enrollment is the time to ensure that you and your loved ones are covered,” Commissioner Mais said. “It’s important to explore all available health insurance options, understand what kind of coverage fits your needs, and consider factors such as premiums, out-of-pocket costs, network types, and the protections available under state and federal laws.”

In addition to the plans available through Access Health CT, both Anthem and ConnectiCare continue to offer off-exchange health insurance plans directly to consumers. These options may be ideal for those who do not qualify for subsidies or want to explore additional coverage choices. (For more information on off-exchange health insurance plans, visit the Connecticut Insurance Department’s website.)

Commissioner Mais is also advising consumers to utilize tools like the 2024 Consumer Report Card, which offers a comparative overview of health plans available in Connecticut.

Key Dates for Access Health CT open enrollment: Open enrollment period: November 1, 2024, to January 15, 2025Enroll by December 15: Coverage begins January 1Enroll between December 16 and January 15: Coverage begins February 1

There are several ways for customers to obtain information on Access Health CT’s health plan options and to enroll in those plans. They include:

• Online:
  • Browse AccessHealthCT.com
• Telephone:
  • Call 1-855-805-4325 anytime on Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Individuals who have hearing or speech disabilities may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call a relay operator.
• In-person:
  • Visit any of Access Health CT’s enrollment locations or navigator partner locations. (Click here for list of locations)
  • Attend one of several enrollment fairs that are being held throughout the next several weeks. (Click here for schedule of enrollment events)

Access Health CT (AHCT) today announced Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients will be eligible to enroll in health insurance coverage through state-based marketplaces beginning Nov. 1. This change in the law means DACA recipients living in Connecticut can enroll in health and dental insurance plans offered through AHCT.

DACA is a policy that defers deportation for eligible individuals who do not have a lawful U.S. immigration status.

DACA recipients from birth to 15 years old, or DACA recipients who are pregnant, may be eligible for HUSKY Health programs, including Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

DACA recipients who will be newly eligible to enroll in coverage through a state-based marketplace starting November 1 may also be eligible for financial help to pay for their health insurance. Eligibility is based on address, income and number of household members. Financial help is not available towards the cost of dental plans.

Anyone who becomes a DACA recipient will qualify for a 60-day Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The SEP will begin on the day deferred action is granted or on November 1 for 2024 coverage for those already granted deferred action.

“Our mission at Access Health CT is to reduce the rate of the uninsured and eliminate health disparities,” said Access Health CT Chief Executive Officer, James Michel. “This new opportunity allows for even more people living in Connecticut to get insured, which will improve overall health outcomes in our communities.”

“Our customers can receive enrollment help in over 100 languages when they contact our call center, as well as get in-person help through a broker or one of our Navigator community partners around the state,” Michel continued. “We are here to assist them in getting the important insurance coverage they need to live healthy lives.”

DACA recipients can find free help and enroll online, in person or by phone.

For free help and to enroll, customers may contact the call center at 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Enrollment help is available over the phone in more than 100 languages. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call 1-855-805-4325 with a relay operator.

There are several ways to get free in-person help. Customers may work with a certified broker or enrollment specialist in their community. To find a certified broker or enrollment specialist, visit the Get Help webpage at www.accesshealthct.com/get-help.

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas today are reminding voters in Connecticut that a 14-day period of early voting for the 2024 general election is set to begin on Monday, October 21, 2024.

Early voting provides all voters with the opportunity to cast their ballots in-person on a day of their choosing in advance of Election Day – including on two separate weekends – creating more convenience for voters and encouraging greater participation in elections.

This is the first time in history that early voting is being offered in Connecticut for a general election, making the state one of the last in the nation to enact a system of early voting. Connecticut was the 47^th state to adopt early voting.

“Connecticut is finally joining the rest of the nation by having a system of early voting, and our hope is that the convenience this creates will encourage more people to vote,” Governor Lamont said. “Early voting is nearly identical to voting on Election Day with two main differences. First, instead of going to your normal polling place, every town has at least one designated location where all early voting for that town is held. Most towns are choosing to do their early voting at their town hall, however it may vary, so check for your town’s early voting location before you go. Second, all ballots cast during the early voting period will remain secured and unopened until Election Day, when election officials begin the counting process.”

“After years of waiting, voters will no longer need to worry that an emergency or unexpected event could prevent them from casting their vote,” Secretary Thomas said. “Early voting provides every type of Connecticut voter, from seniors, parents, and students, to commuters, those who work long hours, and anyone with an unreliable schedule. Together with our office, registrars of voters and town clerks have worked diligently and collaboratively on a nonpartisan basis all year on the roll out of early voting in order to ensure a safe, secure election for all.”

“Early voting offers convenience and flexibility in voting, ensuring that your voice is heard without the constraints of a single Election Day,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “Many people do not have the privilege of flexible work hours, reliable childcare options, or circumstances that allow them to cast their vote on Election Day. That’s why almost every other state in the country offers an early voting option, and now Connecticut residents have the choice too. So, whether you’re busy on Election Day or just prefer to vote at your own pace, early voting empowers you to participate in shaping the future of our democracy.”

A list containing each town’s designated early voting location can be found online at myvote.ct.gov. Voters can also check the website of their town’s registrar of voters for location information. Voters can only vote in the town in which they are registered.

The 14 days of early voting and their hours of operation for the 2024 general election are as follows:

1. Monday, October 21, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2. Tuesday, October 22, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
3. Wednesday, October 23, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
4. Thursday, October 24, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
5. Friday, October 25, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
6. Saturday, October 26, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
7. Sunday, October 27, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
8. Monday, October 28, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
9. Tuesday, October 29, 2024 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
10. Wednesday, October 30, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
11. Thursday, October 31, 2024 – 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
12. Friday, November 1, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
13. Saturday, November 2, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
14. Sunday, November 3, 2024 – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Election Day is on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, and all polling places in Connecticut will be open like normal from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Election officials in every town keep a record of every voter who has voted early, preventing them from voting early at any other location, submitting an absentee ballot, or voting on Election Day.

For more information about voting in Connecticut, visit myvote.ct.gov.

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement today regarding the announcement by Yankee Gas that it will soon file a request with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority for a $209 million rate hike. If granted, ratepayers would see an average increase of roughly 29 percent in their bills. Yankee Gas is owned by Eversource. It provides gas service to 252,000 customers in 85 towns throughout Connecticut.

“This massive rate hike request could not come at a worse time for Connecticut who are already struggling to afford these skyrocketing utility bills. I’m going to comb through every line of this request the moment it is filed, and I’ll be fighting at every step of the way to make sure no one pays a penny more than absolutely necessary,” said Attorney General Tong.

https://www.doingitlocal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Steel-Grain-Final-Dimensions-3.mp4

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is making several changes to Connecticut’s early child care and education programs that will result in more children being able to receive access to these programs, while also lowering the associated costs to their parents.

“Access to child care and early education programs is massively important to the success of our state, not only because these programs provide valuable tools for children that will lead them to success in the future, but also because being able to enroll your child in care right now means that parents themselves can have an opportunity to obtain employment and earn an income that supports their family,” Governor Lamont said. “Right now, Connecticut is expanding access to child care for high-need communities to levels we’ve never experienced and I am determined to continue this trend. I appreciate the Biden-Harris administration for working with our state to make expanding access to child care a priority.”

Effective January 1, 2025, family fees for Care 4 Kids – the state program that supports low to moderate-income families with some of the costs of paying for child care – will be capped at 7% of household income, which is down from the current rate of 10%. This means that the fees required to participate in Care 4 Kids will decrease for all participating families. On average, it is estimated that this change will save families about $200 per month.

Additionally, effective October 1, 2024, in an effort to reduce the benefit cliff that families enrolled in Care 4 Kids can face, families participating in this program will be able to remain enrolled until their household income reaches 85% of the state median income, which is an increase from the current limit of 65%. This means that if a parent receives a promotion or pay raise from their employer, it is more likely they can accept the pay increase and not worry that it will prevent their child from continuing to receive this care.

Both of these changes bring Connecticut in alignment with federal requirements and can be implemented using existing federal funds.

An additional 1,500 children will be enrolled in Care 4 Kids, bringing the total number of children served under this program from 21,500 to 23,000, using existing state and federal funding.

In addition to the Care 4 Kids changes, the state is adding 900 new state-funded early care and education spaces for young children through the School Readiness and Child Day Care program by maximizing existing state funds.

These programs are administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.

“Connecticut continues to look for ways to leverage state and federal resources to increase access to affordable child care for families,” Connecticut Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye said. “Today’s announcement is about adding capacity and affordability. It’s good for families, good for child care programs, and good for Connecticut’s economy.”

This added capacity brings the total number of children receiving municipal, state, and federally funded early childhood programs in Connecticut to 62,400, which is well ahead of the Connecticut Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care’s goal of 60,000 children being funded in these programs by fiscal year 2026. With these new investments, 29% of children under 5 years of age will be enrolled in more affordable early childhood education programs in the current fiscal year.

“Child care is a necessity for Connecticut’s working families and the Biden-Harris administration commends the state for moving swiftly to implement a new federal rule to lower costs for families participating in the child care subsidy program,” Ruth Friedman, director of the Office of Child Care for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said.

“Few things are more frustrating for parents than trying to find affordable child care,” U.S. Senator Chris Murphy said. “These new changes are going to make a big difference for thousands of families by lowering costs and opening up more spots in child care and early education programs. It’s a big deal for those kids’ development, but it will also give the state’s economy a boost. I’ll keep fighting to increase the federal government’s investment in child care in Connecticut.”

“I am thrilled to see federal funding be used to take bold steps that will make more child care slots available in our state and lower costs by capping fees for low and middle-income families receiving assistance at 7% of their household income,” U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) said. “Under Governor Lamont’s leadership, Connecticut is leading the nation to ensure working families can access the child care they need to make ends meet. I will continue to work with President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Connecticut Congressional delegation to build on this progress in Washington so every family can afford high-quality child care.”

“Affordable child care is essential for families to thrive,” U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) said. “And yet, they struggle with the high cost – making difficult decisions on their budget to ensure their children are cared for when they go to work. I am proud to have secured American Rescue Plan Act funding and Child Care and Development Fund dollars to help bring down the cost of childcare in Connecticut. Ensuring parents pay no more than seven percent of their income for childcare, will help families keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”

Governor Lamont made these announcements today during a news conference at the Enfield Child Development Center.

“We are very proud to serve families in our community who are working or attending training or college who are supported thorough the Care 4 Kids program,” Eileen Gardner, senior site manager for the Enfield Child Development Center, said. “These changes will help our families pay for child care and other critical household needs. We are also committed to partnering with the Office of Early Childhood to deliver state-funded high-quality early care and education services to our youngest children.”

“I began working at the Enfield Child Development Center two years ago as a teacher’s aide in the toddler program,” Ashley Plaza Torres said. “I have two children, 8 years old and 2 years old, and I am thankful to have the support of Care 4 Kids because it gives me the opportunity to work and afford child care for two children.”

These changes and their impacts on Connecticut’s workforce and its economy are projected to increase the state’s gross domestic product by $351 million and state revenue by $29.7 million. For every dollar invested in adding these child care slots, there is an expected one-year return of approximately $13.50 in total economic benefits. If it is assumed an additional slot enables on additional parent to join the workforce, even at minimum wage, this would add $33,000 in household earnings.

For information on Care 4 Kids, visit ctcare4kids.com.

There was another school incident in Norwalk this morning. Should parents and the child be charged?? What do you think?

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is nominating Kathleen Unger Holt of Mansfield to serve as Connecticut’s healthcare advocate.

Holt was most recently the associate director for the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a Connecticut-focused, national, nonprofit law organization that works to advance access to comprehensive Medicare coverage, health equity, and quality healthcare for older people and people with disabilities. In this role, which she held since 2014, she helped to lead the organization’s Connecticut and nationwide advocacy and outreach efforts, worked with lawmakers on the development of Medicare-related healthcare bills both on state and federal levels, and spoke as an advocate to raise public awareness about healthcare issues.

She was recommended to Governor Lamont by the Healthcare Advocate Advisory Committee, a group consisting of appointees of bipartisan legislative leaders. The committee recently completed a statutorily-required process to search for and evaluate candidates who could be nominated to the position, and then provided the governor with a list of its endorsed candidates.

“I am very excited that Kathy Holt has accepted our offer to serve as Connecticut’s next healthcare advocate because she has an incredible amount of experience, both here in our state and on a national level, in helping people access the coverage they need and advocating on their behalf, especially for people who are older, people who have disabilities, and people who frequently face barriers to obtaining health insurance,” Governor Lamont said. “Kathy is going to be an excellent partner for our administration, the legislature, and the people of Connecticut to help develop the policies we need to strengthen access to affordable, high-quality health insurance.”

“I am thrilled to accept Governor Lamont’s nomination as Connecticut’s healthcare advocate, working to ensure every Connecticut resident has the best possible access to affordable, quality healthcare,” Holt said. “In addition to assisting individuals obtain access to healthcare services, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate represents the collective voice of all Connecticut patients. I look forward to collaborating with healthcare providers, insurers, employers, other state agencies, and state and federal legislators to coordinate, deliver, oversee, and improve healthcare in Connecticut, making Connecticut a healthcare model for the country.”

Holt, who was raised in Newtown, began her career working with the insurance company Cigna in Bloomfield, where she developed insurance claim process improvement strategies. After earning a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management from the University of Connecticut, she helped protect patient rights and expand patient services as a hospital administrator, first at New Britain Memorial Hospital and then at Northwest Hospital in Seattle, Washington.

Upon obtaining her law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 1993, Holt became a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Seattle. In that position, she authored health law opinions, litigated in federal court, and served as an in-house attorney for administrative law judges.

In 1997, following the birth of her second child who was born with significant disabilities, Holt founded a Seattle-area law practice to advocate for the needs of older people and people who have disabilities. She led this practice until her arrival at the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

In addition to her professional work, Holt volunteers her time with several organizations, including service as chair of the board of directors for the Yale-New Haven Health System’s Lawrence + Memorial Hospital; as a member of the board of directors for Team Gleason, an organization that advocates for people living with ALS; as a commissioner for the Mansfield Housing Authority, which assists low and moderate-income families with safe, decent, and affordable housing; and as a public member of the Connecticut Teacher’s Retirement Board.

Holt will begin serving as healthcare advocate in an interim capacity effective September 30, 2024. At the start of the next regular legislative session, which begins January 8, 2025, the Office of the Governor will forward Holt’s nomination to the Connecticut General Assembly for its advice and consent. Upon being confirmed by the legislature during the regular session, she will begin serving a full four-year term.

Holt will succeed the most recent healthcare advocate, Ted Doolittle, who stepped down from the position last year to accept an appointment as a federal immigration judge. Since Doolittle’s departure, Sean King, who is the general counsel for the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, has been serving as acting healthcare advocate.

The position of healthcare advocate is responsible for serving as the head of the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, a state agency that provides free direct legal services, advice, and support to Connecticut families and businesses facing health insurance claim denials or other challenges with their public or private health coverage. Its staff helps resolve disputes with health insurers and seeks to protect consumers’ access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. In addition, the healthcare advocate serves as a subject matter expert on issues related to healthcare access and coverage, providing education and feedback to legislators, regulators, and other policymakers in support of consumer-supportive changes to laws, regulations, policies, and other systemic structures that make up the healthcare environment in Connecticut and nationally.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month – an important time to raise awareness about 988, a dedicated line that connects Connecticut residents to the United Way of Connecticut 211 mental health crisis services team.

ROCKY HILL (September 16, 2024) — When someone is in crisis, or worried about someone in crisis, 988 is the first stop. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, local help is available by phone, and since February of this year, by chat and text.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched 988 nationwide on July 16, 2022, as a new, easy-to-remember Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. United Way of Connecticut 211 has provided the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline service (now the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) for more than 40 years, in close partnership with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). At the launch of the new three-digit exchange, 988, United Way of CT Crisis Contact Specialists assisted callers, but a national back-up center responded to chats and texts.

In its first year of 988 service, United Way of Connecticut 211 saw a 125% increase in suicide prevention and mental health crisis calls. In fiscal year 2024, their crisis services team answered more than 46,000 988 calls – an increase of 32% from 2023. The 211CT crisis services team answers 96% of all 988 calls in an average of five seconds – beating the nationally required 95% in 15 seconds.

“To serve more CT residents locally, especially younger people in crisis, we launched our in-state chat and text service on February 6, 2024, initially operating weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,” said Tanya Barrett, Senior Vice President of 211 Health and Human Services. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, local resource knowledge is a particularly important reason for contacts to be fielded by local crisis counselors. “As of August 1, we’ve now expanded our hours of chat and text operations to seven days per week. Between February and August, we responded to more than 1,100 chats and texts.”

United Way of Connecticut 211 reports that most of the chat and text interactions came from young, white females ages 13 to 25 who prefer text (70%) to chat (30%).

Barrett shares, “We know that many younger people are most comfortable communicating through chat or text. Responding to these 988 chat and text messages in-state is important because local 988 contact specialists know the specific stressors of our community and know the resources and supports best. That means the best possible help, most quickly, for those in need.”

“Whether people in crisis reach us through a phone call, a chat, or a text message – the support on the other end of the line, the backbone of 988 in CT, is our Crisis Contact Specialist team,” says Lisa Tepper Bates, President and CEO, United Way of Connecticut. “Our team consistently ranks among the top 988 call centers in the nation for speed-to-answer – we know that lives can depend on picking up the phone and providing support quickly.”

For the newly launched in-state chat and text service, the 211CT team maintains that stellar performance; they answer each interaction within nine seconds, and the interactions average 81 minutes in length.

DMHAS Commissioner Nancy Navaretta shares, “Our nation is in the midst of a mental health crisis, and here in Connecticut, we are proud of our comprehensive and continually evolving crisis services, including the 988 Lifeline. The simplicity of the 988 number has significantly improved accessibility for people of all ages who may be struggling emotionally or experiencing thoughts of suicide. The establishment of this service enables timely intervention. For every individual who dies by suicide each year, there are more than 300 others who seriously consider it but don’t take action. It is often the personal connection made with a compassionate and empathetic 211 Contact Specialist, whether through a call, text, or chat, that opens the door to a different, more hopeful outcome for individuals and their families.”

“Our Contact Specialists do heroic work every day: they meet each caller where they are, taking the time to understand each person’s needs, de-escalate the crisis, and offer options for support. Our staff are truly amazing human beings who handle difficult calls with empathy and compassion,” says Bates. “In FY’24, 92% of adult callers reported that their state of crisis diminished while on the phone with a 211 crisis specialist. There is no more important result for these callers.”

But when more intensive help is needed urgently, their crisis services team can connect callers to mobile crisis services – for adults as well as children. These teams of mobile crisis clinicians can go directly to where an adult or child in distress is located. This service is recognized as a best practice but is not yet offered in all states and communities. Connecticut leads the nation in providing mobile crisis support as part of its crisis response services continuum.

And while their crisis team will engage in active rescue when needed, United Way of Connecticut reports that less than 1% of all crisis calls this past year required escalation to 911 for active rescue or medical emergency response.

“At the end of the day, and though these statistics and metrics matter, they are just numbers. We know that what matters most is the individual person, the individual life, on the other end of the phone, or the other side of the chat or text,” says Tanya Barrett. “It is thanks to our partners in suicide prevention and crisis response at DMHAS, Department of Children and Families (DCF), and Department of Public Health (DPH), that CT residents have access to a wide array of services across the crisis continuum.”

If you are struggling, in distress, and need crisis and suicide prevention assistance, reach out to 9-8-8 for a direct connection to professionally trained and educated 211 Crisis Contact Specialists – who are doing heroic work every day.