3/10/21 Newsletter: Access Health Enrollment, Essay Contest, New Legislation

March 10, 2021
Earlier this week, the Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 6321, concerning the Connecticut Parentage Act. This legislation ensures that all Connecticut children, regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the marital status, gender, or sexual orientation of their parents, have equal access to the security of a legal parent-child relationship. 

Please listen to my testimony below to further understand the importance of this bill. 
HB 6321 Testimony 
 
Cybersecurity & Keeping Children Safe
 
In this digital era, cyber security and keeping our children safe online is more important than ever before. In case you missed it this afternoon, please watch the zoom recording below to hear my conversation with Satyapriya Sharma -- Escalations Leader of the Web Security Appliance at Cisco Systems -- as we dive into this issue and discuss best practices to keep our children safe online.

Passcode for zoom recording below: rX1#J3ru
Click here to view the conversation
 
Avon & Canton Essay Contest 

One thing you may not know about me is that at one time, I was a journalist, and I have always been a writer. I can remember participating in essay contests throughout elementary, middle, and high school and that's why I am so excited to host this one. I hope you'll share this information with the 7th and 8th grade students in Avon and Canton in your life:

Calling all 7th and 8th graders in Avon and Canton, please join me in celebrating Women's History Month through research writing: Who is your favorite historical female figure? How did she shape history? What do you admire about her?

I am excited to read your thoughts! Please submit all essays to max.delorenzo@cga.ct.gov by March 31st with the subject line, Essay contest/ Rep. Kavros DeGraw. 
 
New Legislation
 

Last week, Governor Lamont signed several bills into law that make great strides to moving our state forward.
H.B. 6514 offers incentives for data centers to locate in Connecticut. Data centers are buildings, a group of buildings or section of a building used to house computer networks, hardware and data storage systems. This bill will bring a new industry to our state and spark job and economic growth.
 
H.B. 6515 prohibits workplace discrimination based on hairstyles that are commonly associated with people of color, such as afros, Bantu knots, braids, cornrows, dreadlocks, and twists. A 2019 study found that Black women are 80 percent more likely to alter their natural hair to accommodate social norms or work expectations and 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work because of their hairstyles. With the passage of the CROWN Act, Connecticut becomes the 8th state to ban discrimination on the basis of natural hair or texture.
 
H.B. 6516 addresses constituent concerns across the state with respect to inequitable taxation when working from home and unfair burdens on the poor.
 
The pandemic has changed the way people work. Many Connecticut residents who normally commute to Massachusetts or New York have been working from home. The bill creates a state income tax credit for the 2020 tax year for many residents who normally commute to another state and would apply to any resident who paid income tax to any other state that requires nonresident employees to pay nonresident income tax on income earned while working remotely from Connecticut due to COVID-19. Those residents will be allowed a credit against Connecticut state income tax for the tax paid to the other state.
 
The legislation also repeals the unfair practice of seeking repayment of state assistance by our family members, friends or neighbors who may have needed help in the past but have since lifted themselves out of poverty. The policy, known as a "welfare lien," treats public assistance as debt and is a huge roadblock to upward mobility and home-ownership.
 
H.B. 6516 also modifies the PILOT program formula (payment in lieu of taxes) that will bring economic equity to many of our cities and towns.
 
The bills signed by Governor Lamont mark the first in what I hope will be an incredibly productive session.
 
 
Access Health Special Enrollment Extension 
 
Since the Special Enrollment Period began on February 15, over 2,000 Connecticut residents have signed up through Access Health CT for coverage.

Access Health CT is now extending its Special Enrollment Period for consumers who are not currently enrolled in coverage through AHCT.  

Uninsured individuals can sign up for health insurance coverage through Access Health CT during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) extension from March 16 through April 15, 2021.
Click here to enroll today 
Special Enrollment Period coverage effective dates and guidelines are as follows: 
 
Consumers
enrolling from		  
March 16-31		  
April 1-15
 
Plan effective date		  
May 1, 2021		  
June 1, 2021
  Customer must pay their
first month’s premium (monthly payment) for coverage to begin.		 Customer must pay their first month’s premium (monthly payment) for coverage to begin.

 

  • Consumers will not be required to verify their eligibility for this Special Enrollment Period
  •  Consumers currently enrolled in coverage through AHCT will not be eligible to use this Special Enrollment Period to change plans
  •  Financial help will continue to be available to consumers who qualify.

Individuals who experience a Qualifying Life Event (e.g., loss of coverage due to job change or unemployment) or qualify for Medicaid/Children’s Health Program (CHIP), can continue to enroll year-round.

Access Health CT reminds residents of the importance of maintaining their coverage throughout the year, and not just during this public health crisis. It is critical that uninsured individuals take advantage of this opportunity to protect their health, wellbeing and ensure they have access to needed services. 
 
Access Health CT will continue to offer free help: 

  • Online: AccessHealthCT.com (Live chat: AccessHealthCT.com click “Live Chat” icon) 
  • Phone: 1-855-805-4325, Mon. – Fri.  8 AM - 4 PM
  • With Enrollment Specialists in the community 
  • In-person help at either of AHCT’s Navigator partner locations**:  
 
UCONN Women's Basketball

Connecticut is #1! Congratulations to the UCONN Women’s Basketball team on their 19th Big East Tournament win!