Dear Neighbor,
As we feared, last week, on a party line vote, the U.S. Senate failed to protect your care and extend federal Affordable Care Act subsidies. The GOP killed a Democratic proposal to protect the subsidies for three years. This is devastating for families.
Connecticut taxpayers cannot fill up all of the brutal cuts to federal programs from the GOP controlled Congress, but we hope to blunt the worst effects, and we have a way to do that.
As you recall, last fall the General Assembly and Governor Lamont set aside surplus dollars to bridge some gaps in the short term.
As a result, Governor Lamont announced that the state expects to spend roughly $70 million next year to make up for the loss of subsidies. These funds will come from the $500 million contingency reserve we created during last month’s special session to address potential federal cuts to safety-net programs.
For individuals earning up to $56,000 a year, health care costs will remain unchanged. Likewise, a family of four with an annual income of up to approximately $128,000 will see little to no change in their costs. Partial subsidies are being considered for those with slightly higher incomes, up to $75,000 for single individuals and $160,000 or more for a family of four who would pay slightly more than they do now.
The dollars cover many, but perhaps not all, families, and will protect families for one year only.
But it’s great news in a difficult time. |
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