Five Years Ago This Week, AHCT Extends Deadline, Food Insecurity Summit in Avon

January 7, 2026



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Happy New Year! I hope that your holidays were fun, but also restful. I am grateful that all three of our children were home for Christmas, and the house was full of joy.
 
Up top today, Access Health has extended its deadline for signing up for healthcare . . . reason is that, while the state has committed resources to providing some subsidies to replace those that were taken away at the federal level, Access Health and the state are still working through the logistics of how to make it all work (hopefully, seamlessly). The new deadline is 1/31 to sign up; more information below.
 
Next week, I will be joining the panel locally at the Food Insecurity Summit in Avon. The goal of the event is to raise awareness of food insecurity in the Farmington Valley and to help shape food insecurity policy going forward.
 
If you need energy assistance this winter, Generation Power (formerly Operation Fuel) has opened applications for its Energy Assistance Program, and the deadline is January 10th. More information below.
 
Mark your calendars, the first day of the 2026 session is Wednesday, February 4th, and you can watch all of our proceedings HERE.

Eleni

Five Years Ago This Week...

Five years ago this week, I was sworn in for my first term. It's surreal to think about how the morning of January 6, 2021, began for those of us taking the oath of office and how the day ended with a police officer killed at our U.S. Capitol and more than 140 officers injured.
 
My freshman class started in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, where our votes had to be taken from our offices for safety, and we had to limit how many people could be in the chamber at one time. Our public hearings had to take place online, including a 24-hour hearing on Zoom regarding the removal of the religious exemption for vaccines. The public wasn't allowed to join us in the building.

I'm glad we were able to return to normalcy (with some technological upgrades). It's much better to allow people to testify remotely when they need to provide equal access for seniors, people with disabilities, and people with full-time jobs who can't leave work to spend all day in a hearing room. It's great to be able to run into a colleague in the hall and hash out details of a bill on the fly. It's good to be in the chamber to hear the debate rather than watching it on TV in our offices. It's good to have the option to vote remotely if we are in our offices negotiating a bill, but the importance of getting to hit my green or red button in the chamber will never be lost on me.
 
As I look to this short session at the end of my third term, I am excited to dig back into the main thrust of our jobs—crafting meaningful legislation that hopefully makes people's lives better.
We continue to have big challenges ahead of us, whether because of dramatic changes at the federal level to funding or the daily struggle people face when it comes to groceries, utilities, and housing costs, or the issues everyday people make us aware of that we need to act upon for consumer protection, safety, or justice (to name a few).
 
I am grateful to have another session to serve District 17 and the state of Connecticut, and I am grateful to you for reading these e-newsletters and for reaching out to me in an ongoing dialogue with your ideas, your kind words, and, yes, sometimes, your challenging remarks, which are also important. Thank you for helping me do my job better.
 

 Access Health Extends Deadline

Access Health CT (AHCT) has announced that the final deadline to enroll in a health or dental plan for 2026 has been extended to Saturday, January 31.

The original deadline was January 15.

Customers who enroll now will have coverage starting February 1. Customers can also renew their coverage.

Recent state and federal changes mean the amount of financial help available and who is eligible have changed. However, financial assistance is still available.

Access Health CT is working with state officials on a plan to implement the new state subsidy program that will lower costs for eligible Connecticut residents who purchase their health insurance through the exchange.

Some customers might qualify for new state subsidies or other low- or no-cost coverage options, including the Covered CT Program or HUSKY Health, Connecticut’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The state subsidies will fully fund the expired enhanced premium tax credit amounts for consumers with incomes between 100-200% of the federal poverty level, and who are not enrolled in the Covered CT program.

The state subsidies will also replace 50% of the expired enhanced premium tax credit amounts for those with income over 400% of the federal poverty level and up to 500% of the federal poverty level.

AHCT is the only place Connecticut residents can get financial assistance to pay for their health insurance.
 

Food Insecurity Summit in Avon 

The Farmington Valley Health District (FVHD) will host its first Health in All Policies event, a Food Insecurity Summit, on Wednesday, January 14th, at the Avon Senior Center, located at 635 West Avon Road. You have to register for this event. You can do so by clicking on the flyer below or by scanning the attached QR code.
 

Generation Power CT Assistance

Generation Power CT, formerly known as Operation Fuel, has opened its Energy Assistance Program, which runs through January 10. This is the third program cycle. Eligible Connecticut households can receive a one-time grant of up to $500 to help with electric, gas, or fuel expenses.

Increasing energy costs are a challenge for many in the state, but through this program, GPCT has helped to provide families across Connecticut with secure access to heat, power, and water.

All GPCT energy programs are available to income-eligible households making up to 75% SMI gross household income. Each income-eligible household that receives a GPCT Energy Assistance Award will receive up to $500 toward a future fuel delivery or toward a past-due utility bill. 

For the best chance of approval and to make full use of this once-per-12-months grant, GPCT strongly encourages households to apply for assistance when they are most in need. After the January application period, GPCT has one remaining Energy Assistance Application Cycle this season:

  • March 2nd-10th

To learn more about eligibility requirements and application materials, click HERE. 
 

SNAP: The New Changes 

Find out if the changes to SNAP impact you by answering a few questions. Click HERE for the pre-screener.
 

Heart of The Arts Award 

The deadline for nominations for the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) 2026 Heart of the Arts Award has been extended to January 16.

This prestigious award honors students, adults, or groups involved in high school performing or visual arts who exemplify the core values of education-based activities—integrity, citizenship, courage, and good character.

If you know someone who has shown exceptional "Heart,” gone above and beyond to support others in the school community, or overcome significant challenges, nominate them for this award! 

The nomination form can be found HERE, while a playlist of past winners can be found HERE.
 

It's Radon Action Month

Learn more about radon, how it can affect your health, and how you can take action HERE.
 

Free Christmas Tree Pick Up 

The Department of Public Works in Canton is offering to pick up your Christmas tree for free beginning Monday, weather permitting.

Place your tree near the public road no later than January 11th.

All ornaments and tinsel must be removed before leaving the tree for pickup. There is no charge to town residents who bring their Christmas Tree to the transfer station through the end of January.

If you have any questions, please call the DPW at 860-693-7863.

Meanwhile, in Avon, the DPW Christmas tree pickup has begun and will continue through January 30th. Just leave your tree curbside. There is no established schedule by street.

Please note that several random passes will be made throughout the Town through the 30th. 

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative

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