Jill Barry

Access to health care...or really lack of access to health care...costs lives.

The inability to access affordable health care means you may delay preventative care like annual check-ups or even put off a sick visit until you are seriously ill. The American Journal of Public Health estimates that more than 18,000 Americans aged 25 to 64 die annually as a direct result of being uninsured.

Healthcare spending in the United States is a sky high $3 trillion a year. Costs are high and getting higher. Prescription drug prices are expected to increase by 136 percent by 2025.

This legislative session, we will be introducing bills to protect and expand access to quality and affordable healthcare. These bills include expanding coverage of preexisting conditions to ensure that your access to care is not limited by conditions that are beyond your control. And we will be fighting for increasing access to mental health services and keeping prescription costs in check.

As your state representative, I will always fight to reduce healthcare costs. We must increase access to quality care by bringing all stakeholders - including providers, hospitals and insurance companies - to the table to work together. It is essential to the quality of life in our community and our state.

One of the public health issues I am very involved with at the Capitol is legislation dealing with e-cigarettes and vaping – especially among youth. Vaping is the smoking of this generation and it is happening in our high schools and middle schools. You can review my legislative proposals online.

Please feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or concerns. You can email me at Jill.Barry@cga.ct.gov or call me at (860) 240-8585.