Severe Cold Weather Protocol, Access Health CT Open Enrollment, and more

December 5, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are staying warm during this holiday season. In this email, find information on available resources and warming centers during the severe cold weather advisory, read about Access Health Open Enrollment, which closes on December 15th, and more. If you have any questions or if my office can be of assistance to you, please reach out to my office at any time at 860-240-8585 or email me at andre.baker@cga.ct.gov.

Severe Cold Weather Protocol in Effect

With a blast of arctic air expected to blanket Connecticut over the next several days, the state's severe cold weather protocol will go into effect for the first time this year, beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, through Tuesday, December 9, at noon.

Low temperatures over the next few days will dip into the single digits, with wind chills close to zero at times.

Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.

Click HERE to learn more.

Click here for Bridgeport Warming Centers

Monthly Coffee Hour: Postponed until February 2026

My monthly coffee hour at Frankie's Diner in Bridgeport has been canceled for the remainder of 2025 until February 2026. The next coffee hour will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 14th. I hope you and your family have a happy and healthy holiday season and a New Year. I look forward to seeing you all in 2026.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, concerns, or if my office can be of assistance to you and your family, please do not hesitate to reach out. Contact my office at 860-240-8585 or email me at andre.baker@cga.ct.gov.

Access Health CT Open Enrollment

Access Health CT open enrollment is now open for health and dental coverage! The deadline to enroll in plans starting at the beginning of 2026 is approaching on December 15th. For plans starting February 2026, residents can continue to enroll through January 15th.

Access Health has numerous locations across the state where residents can schedule appointments to meet one-on-one with trained professionals for free guidance and assistance with the enrollment process. Click here to find a location and schedule an appointment.

For those looking to enroll, please have the following information and documents prepared for you and anyone else in your household, even if they don't need coverage:

Dates of Birth
Social Security Numbers
Visa, green card, or immigration documents
Most recent W2 and/or Form 1040, 1099 
Pay-stubs, Profit & Loss Statements, or other employment information
Current insurance coverage (policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household)

Click here to view the enrollment checklist.

To learn more about the enrollment process and to find the plan that is right for you, visit Access Health CT's website.

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week

During Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, Dec. 1–5, 2025, Connecticut is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to encourage families and caregivers to begin open, proactive conversations about safe driving as loved ones age.

State law allows drivers 60 and older to take an approved crash-prevention course and receive an insurance discount, providing an important opportunity to refresh skills and stay safe on the road. For more information and a list of providers, visit portal.ct.gov/dmv/resources/insurance-discounts.

Families are encouraged to work with older adults to develop a transportation plan, which may include the following:

Keeping up with vision and hearing checkups
Reviewing medications for side effects that may affect driving
Choosing daytime or less complex routes, considering adaptive vehicle equipment
Identifying alternative transportation options if driving becomes difficult

Free resources are available through NHTSA to help older adults stay safe and to assist families and caregivers in supporting safe mobility for everyone.

As always, please feel free to contact me at 800-842-8267 or by email at Andre.Baker@cga.ct.gov. And for news and legislative updates, please visit my official Facebook page.

Sincerely,