uninsured
April CT Health Policy Web Quiz
Test your knowledge of trends in CT’s uninsured, take the April CT Health Policy Web Quiz. This month’s quiz was written by Karen Nepomuceno, Policy Intern at the CT Health Policy Project.
Read MoreCourant article highlights medical causes of bankruptcy and foreclosure, if you read into the article
The headline of an article in Sunday’s Courant reads “In CT and elsewhere, more debtors choose personal bankruptcy,” but they missed an important point. The slant of the article is the growing number of bankruptcies resulting from foreclosures. The article describes Maryann Hagberg, a Waterbury woman, and her husband forced into bankruptcy to remain in…
Read MorePeople rushing doctor appointments before they lose their job
The Hartford Courant this morning is reporting that people worried about layoffs are hurrying to schedule doctor and dentist appointments before they lose health benefits. Practices have reported an increase in calls from people who aren’t sick but need to get in for routine appointments fast. They are also getting cancellations from people who have…
Read MoreSheri Aquilino speaks out
The following email arrived at our office yesterday from one of our Board members at the CT Health Policy Project. Sheri Aquilino and her two children used to be on HUSKY; she now has coverage for her family through her job. She feels strongly that people need to understand what the Governor’s proposals for HUSKY…
Read MoreYoung invincibles myths and coverage on parents’ policies
Today’s NY Times has a great article outlining the struggle of uninsured young adults to get health coverage. They describe the difficulty of living in an expensive city working at low wage jobs that don’t offer benefits. Coping strategies include sharing medications, jury rigging insulin injections, self-diagnosing using on-line sources, and giving up fast food…
Read MoreCharter Oak calls to the Consumer Helpline
I have been receiving a lot of calls on our Consumer Helpline (1-888-873-4585) from people having trouble signing up for the Charter Oak Health Care plan. Many of them are having difficulty in even getting answers to their questions from the toll free number that is the only one available for them to use. The…
Read MoreNew administration plans to ease bankruptcy for medical debtors
According to the Wall Street Journal Health Blog, President- Elect Obama’s economic agenda includes an interesting bullet point — “Reform bankruptcy laws to protect families facing a medical crisis: Obama and Biden will create an exemption in bankruptcy law for individuals who can prove they filed for bankruptcy because of medical expenses. This exemption will…
Read MoreAG, Health Care and Child Advocates call on Governor to separately re-bid HUSKY and Charter Oak contracts
In a press conference today, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, State Health Care Advocate Kevin Lembo, and State Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein commended the Governor for her decision Friday to de-link the HUSKY program of health coverage for families from her Charter Oak Health Plan for uninsured adults. The officials also called on the Governor to…
Read MoreCritical Condition documentary showing tomorrow night
PBS’ POV series tomorrow night at 9pm will be, Critical Condition, describeing the barriers to accessing care for America’s uninsured. A streaming version of the film will be online until Nov. 11th. Directly following at 10:30 pm will be RX for Change, a MacNeil/Lehrer Special, a discussion of Americans’ top health insurance concerns. June 5th…
Read MoreDSS answers Medicaid Managed Care Council on HUSKY and Charter Oak costs
Yesterday’s Medicaid Managed Care Council was standing room only for what is generally a dry actuarial discussion about rate setting. Questions from legislators and advocates were pointed but answers were fuzzy. First, representatives from Shramm and Raleigh, DSS’ no-bid financial contractors, described how Charter Oak’s costs and benefit package were arrived at. The original bids…
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