Safeguarding Health Insurance Coverage

December 20, 2018

Last Friday, a judge acting on a lawsuit filed earlier this year, struck down as unconstitutional the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama Care. The judge did not, however, issue an injunction to halt implementation of the law.

In anticipation of Washington’s attempts to gut ACA, my colleagues and I in the General Assembly have acted to safeguard the loss of healthcare insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions and other essential health benefits.

I am proud that Connecticut state laws generally prohibit health insurers from excluding pre-existing conditions as a reason to decline coverage and that a law we passed this year requires insurers to cover 10 essential health benefits. There are provisions, however, allowing exclusion of pre-existing conditions in certain short-term health insurance policies.

Also, I wanted you to know that Access Health CT extended its Dec. 15 deadline to sign up for health insurance to Jan. 15. Enrolling in a policy during the extended period will provide coverage beginning Feb. 1.

Health insurance is a right, not a privilege, and I will continue working for protections to guarantee everyone in Connecticut is able to obtain comprehensive and affordable care.