$70 M for Healthcare Subsidies, Access Health CT Open Enrollment, and more

December 12, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you and your family are staying warm and healthy as we are heading into the winter months. In this email, you can read about the actions Connecticut Democrats took this week to cover the federal government's attacks on healthcare subsidies, learn how you can apply for Access Health CT before the application deadline, and find information on state and local resources. If you have any questions, concerns, or if my office can be of assistance to you, please call my office at any time or email me at kaitlyn.shake@cga.ct.gov.

On Friday, December 12th, the Health and Human Services Committee held a meeting to vote on the Medicaid Waiver Renewals and amendments. We voted on the renewal of the Employment and Day Supports Waiver, and amendments to the Comprehensive Supports Medicaid Waiver and the Individual and Family Supports Medicaid Waiver.

Governor Lamont Authorizes $70 Million
to Offset Cuts to Federal Healthcare Subsidies

Governor Lamont announced using $70 million of the $500 million the state legislature authorized during the November special session to protect thousands of Connecticut residents and their health insurance with Access Health CT.

Anyone who makes up to four times the federal poverty level will be kept completely whole by this funding.

The deadline for coverage starting January 1st remains December 15th. Find your options at: accesshealthct.com and read about how you can apply further down in this email. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions.

There is still more work to be done, but we must continue to do everything we can to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for everyone in our state.

Happy Hannukah

Chag Sameach!

During this holiday season, I'm wishing all our neighbors, families, and friends who celebrate a very Happy Hanukkah. I hope the light of this holiday can also serve as a source of light in our world.

Remembering Sandy Hook

This Sunday, we pause to remember the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14th, 2012, and the survivors, families, educators, and first responders impacted by this tragedy. This day remains a solemn reminder to honor their memories through compassion, kindness, and efforts to make our communities safer.

We stand with Newtown today, and every day, holding their strength and resilience in our hearts.

CES Legislative Brunch

On the morning of Friday, December 12th, I had the opportunity to attend the Cooperative Educational Services Legislative Breakfast. This was a great chance to meet with educational leaders from public schools across Fairfield County to discuss the current status of public schools in the area and address any concerns and questions they have. Connecting directly with Superintendents, Board of Education Chairs, and Representative Council Members is the best way for us as legislators to understand the ways we can support their students, educators, and schools. I look forward to continue to work and advocate in Hartford on behalf of of Stratford Public Schools alongside our Superintendent Heather Borges, Board of Education Chair Jill D'Angelo-Powers, and our Stratford state delegation to ensure our students and education in public schools have access to the resources they need.

Coalition to End Homelessness and Fairfield Coordinated Access Network Rountable

Later in the morning on Friday, December 12th, I attended the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness and the Fairfield Coordinated Access Network (CAN) roundtable conversation. This was a chance to discuss with community members, leaders, and providers about the systematic work necessary to solve homelessness across Fairfield County.

Coalition members stressed that right now, "Connecticut is dealing with HUD rescinding the 2025 NOFO, which put rental support and services for 9,000 of our neighbors at risk. This withdrawal does nothing to protect the 6,500 households in our state. Older adults, people with disabilities, families with children, and veterans are at risk of losing their housing immediately. Across the state, people are going to wonder if they can make rent next month, or if they will be forced to leave their homes."

The service providers and community partners are seeing the impacts on homelessness across Fairfield County and in our communities as the cost-of-living keeps rising. We learned that since last year, there has been a 12% increase impacting seniors and families with young children. This important discussion was an opportunity to hear their perspectives on working in the community and understanding the daily challenges people experiencing homelessness are facing.

I'm grateful to have attended and learn more about what's happening across Fairfield County from various community stakeholders in an effort to collaborate on ways we can work together to solve homelessness.

Connecticut Joins Nurse Licensure Compact

Starting on October 1^st of this year, Connecticut officially joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing nurses to expand their practice across state lines, improving access to care and telehealth for patients. As a state legislator and as a nurse, I view the nursing license compact as an avenue for professionally qualified nurses to assist in filling some of the vacancies across Connecticut.

While this agreement helps recruit nurses, it does not solve the underlying major retention issue for experienced nurses that Connecticut hospitals and healthcare institutions need to acknowledge and address: competitive wages, comprehensive and affordable health insurance, retirement benefit packages, and preventing workplace violence.

As Connecticut attempts to take action to address the nursing shortage, we, as legislators, need to remain aware of the core issue impacting this profession everywhere: nursing burnout and moral injury. Connecticut has plenty of qualified, experienced nurses to fill the majority of our vacancies. It is the responsibilities of the hospitals and healthcare institutions to do better by respecting and taking care of the nursing workforce we currently have and takes care of all of us.

If you are a nurse and want to learn more about how you can convert your state license into a multistate license, click here.

Access Health CT Open Enrollment:
Deadline Approaching

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.

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), is designed to support diverse students who graduate from public high schools in Alliance school districts and are enrolled - or will soon enroll- in teacher preparation programs at a four-year college or university.

The program offers up to $10,000 annually for tuition, with the application deadline set for February 6th, 2026. This initiative is part of the state's broader efforts to diversify the educator workforce and address the teacher shortage. Don’t miss this opportunity to get financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners!

Click here to apply now and take the next step in a career in education.

Skill Up for Manufacturing 2026

If you are looking for a career in manufacturing, apply now for Skill Up for Manufacturing 2026.

Learn fundamentals in as little as 5 weeks, connect with employers, and start earning competitive wages. The class offers FREE training, hands-on experience, and industry-recognized credentials.

This training program includes:

Cash stipend during training
Minimum 175 per-apprenticeship hours
Six Sigma Certification
OSHA 10 safety card
and more

Upcoming Sessions:

January 20 – March 13, 2026 | Middlesex/Vinal Technical H.S., Middletown
February 23 – March 27, 2026 | Gateway CC, New Haven and Eli Whitney Technical High School, Hamden

Click here for more information and to apply now. Take the first step toward a rewarding career in manufacturing!

Real ID Fee Beginning February 2026

Starting February 1st, 2026, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging a $45 fee for air travelers who arrive at airport security without a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport or trusted traveler card. Travelers will be charged this fee to use TSA's ConfirmID identification verification system. The verification is valid for a 10-day period, so it may cover a return trip within that window.

To avoid unnecessary costs and potential security delays, travelers without a Real ID are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible.

Click here to make an appointment with the CT DMV.

Confirmed Case of Measles in Connecticut

Connecticut has confirmed its first measles case in 4+ years — an unvaccinated child from Fairfield County who recently traveled abroad.

Measles is highly contagious and can be serious, especially for kids under 5.

Symptoms: Fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, followed by a rash starting at the head and spreading.

CT leads the nation with a 98.2% MMR vaccination rate — let’s keep it that way!

Make sure your child is up to date:

1st dose: 12–15 months
2nd dose: 4–6 years

Let’s protect our community.

Local Stratford Updates

The Stratford Health Department will be holding Flu Clinics throughout December and January. Check out the clinic dates below, as well as what insurance is accepted.

The Stratford PAL and Stratford Police Department will be at Stratford Walmart every weekend throughout the month, collecting toys for kids in need. The Stratford Police Explorers will be collecting toys at the same location on Thursday nights.

If you're unable to visit Walmart in Stratford, you can drop off toys at the Stratford Police Headquarters located at 900 Longbrook Ave, Stratford, CT.

The Stratford Junior Women's Club is collecting toys and books for children in need this holiday season. Giving trees and the toy and book drop-off locations are located across Stratford.

This Saturday, December 13th, Stratford's Bunnell Bulldogs are heading to Central Connecticut State University to compete against Windsor in the CIAC State Championship Football Game!

Go Bulldogs!

Wreaths Across America with VFW Post 9460 will take place on Saturday, December 13th at 10 a.m. at Union Cemetery, 23 Temple Court, Stratford. Anyone who's looking to participate, please come on down to help honor and remember these heroes.

Stratford's 12th Annual Holiday Decorating Contest is now taking place until December 14th. Nominate your home or a neighbor's home that you think is worthy of receiving the award.

The Celebrate Stratford Annual Menorah Lighting will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16th, at Stratford Town Hall Green. The lighting is sponsored by the Chabad Lubavitch of Southern Connecticut.