Get More Benefits &
Save More! Call For
More Info Today

Getting Health Insurance in Connecticut

This page assists consumers seeking health insurance plans in Connecticut. Here, you will find helpful information about the many kinds of health insurance coverage available. You can find an overview of the Connecticut health insurance marketplace and forthcoming open enrollment period, a look at the Medicaid expansion status in Connecticut, and a quick look at short-term health insurance available in the state.

Health insurance plans in Connecticut.

Health Insurance Marketplace in Connecticut

Access Health CT is a successful state-run exchange that dodged many of the technical issues that plagued other exchanges over the first few years of operation.

Open Enrollment Period and Dates in Connecticut

Open enrollment for 2020 coverage in Connecticut was prolonged upto January 15, 2020 (the second year in a row that AccessHealth CT issued a last-minute extension). Open enrollment for 2021 coverage in Connecticut will begin on November 1, 2020. Till then, residents with qualifying events can enroll or make changes to their coverage for 2020.

Enrollment for 2020 coverage through Access Health CT reached 107,833 people during the open enrollment, which is the lowest it’s been since 2014.

As of 2019, pregnancy is a qualifying event that enables a woman to enroll in ACA-compliant individual market coverage in Connecticut.

Special Enrollment Period to Assist Uninsured Persons Gain Coverage During Coronavirus Pandemic

To address the coronavirus pandemic, AccessHealth CT, the state-run exchange in Connecticut, started allowing uninsured residents to enroll in health insurance plans starting in March 2020. The coronavirus special enrollment period was extended through April 17.

Health Insurance Companies and Premiums in Connecticut

Two health insurance companies – Anthem and ConnectiCare – are providing 2020 coverage through Access Health CT. The average rate increase for 2019 individual market coverage was 2.72 percent, and for 2020, it was 3.65 percent, as well as plans sold on- and off-exchange (for small group plans, approximately all of which are only sold off-exchange, it was 9.2 percent).

Expansion of Medicaid in Connecticut

In 2010, Connecticut was the first state to adopt Medicaid expansion, and it again expanded Medicaid eligibility criteria for the program at the start of 2014.

As of December 2019, 850,657 persons had Medicaid coverage through HUSKY Health – Connecticut’s Medicaid and CHIP program.

Short-Term Health Insurance in Connecticut

Connecticut started requiring short-term health plans to cover essential health benefits.

In 2018, the Trump administration relaxed the rules on the duration of short-term health insurance plans, but the rules allow states to continue to enforce more strict restrictions, and Connecticut does.

The state already limited short-term plans to no more than six months in duration and prohibited renewals. Early in 2019, Connecticut started requiring short-term health plans to cover essential health benefits. Consequently, there are no longer any insurers offering short-term plans in the state.

The Affordable Care Act in Connecticut

The Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, was unanimously supported by Connecticut’s delegation to the United States Congress. Sen. Christopher Dodd, a Democrat, and Joseph Lieberman, an Independent, both voted to pass the ACA in 2010, as did all five of Connecticut’s Democratic representatives.

The senators have since left office, with Dodd replaced by Richard Blumenthal and Lieberman replaced by Chris Murphy. Both Blumenthal and Murphy are Democrats and supportive of the Affordable Care Act. All five of Connecticut’s Representatives are still Democrats as of 2020.

Connecticut state legislators passed legislation authorizing a state-run health insurance marketplace in 2011, and then Gov. Dan Malloy signed the bill into law on July 1, 2011. Malloy was re-elected in 2014. Present Governor, Ned Lamont, who is also a Democrat, took office in 2019.

Connecticut state health insurance marketplace was named Access Health CT in December 2012. Access Health CT has been one of the nation’s most successful marketplaces, with few technical problems and robust enrollment. 

Resources and References:

• Essential Health Benefits
• Obamacare