State Expansions: Connecticut
In June 2007, the state legislature passed the HealthFirst Connecticut and Healthy Kids Initiative and the governor’s Charter Oak Health Plan. The bills expanded eligibility for state health programs, increased reimbursements for Medicaid providers, and sought to improve access to coverage for the state’s uninsured. The bills also made significant changes to HUSKY A, the state’s Medicaid program, including:
- Extending eligibility to parents with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level (about $39,220 for a family of four in 2008) and pregnant woman with incomes up to 250 percent of poverty ($53,000 for a family of four in 2008).
- Implementation of a pilot primary care case management system (PCCM), which will cover at least 1,000 people in HUSKY A. Participating primary care providers will be responsible for coordinating enrollees’ medical care and ensuring that they receive preventive and specialized treatments as needed. PCCM is expected to open for enrollment in October 2008.
The two bills also made some reforms to private coverage, such as raising the age of dependent coverage from 23 to 26 and removing the full-time student eligibility requirement.
The governor’s Charter Oak Health Plan, passed in 2007, opened for enrollment in late June 2008. This plan provides subsidized coverage for residents who have been uninsured for at least six months and who are ineligible for other state health programs. Charter Oak covers hospital care, doctor or clinic visits, X-rays and lab tests, prescriptions, and some mental health and substance abuse treatment. Enrollees are responsible for sliding scale premiums ($75-$279), annual deductibles ($150-$900), and copayments. The program imposes a $100,000 annual maximum and a $1 million lifetime maximum. Premium subsidies are available for people who earn below 300 percent of poverty (about $63,000 for a family of four in 2008).
During the 2008 legislative session, state lawmakers also approved a bill to permit small businesses and municipalities to buy into the state employee health plan, providing an avenue to obtain affordable, comprehensive coverage. Unfortunately, Governor Jodi Rell vetoed this innovative legislation.
Connecticut Expansion Resources
For general resources on state expansions, see Other Resources.
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