uninsured
New Census numbers find uninsured largely unchanged in CT; many more buying insurance directly
In 2007, there were 326,000 uninsured CT residents, or one in eleven of us had no coverage – not significantly different from the 2006 numbers according to Census numbers released today. We had a good decrease in uninsured from 2005 to 2006 which has been stable. CT has the eighth best (lowest) uninsured rate in…
Read MoreDrama at the Medicaid Managed Care Council
Yesterday, the Council passed a resolution to recommend a delay in transitioning HUSKY families into the new HMOs and to freeze enrollment in Charter Oak until July 1st, 2009. The council was concerned that only a handful of providers have signed up with the two new plans, AmeriChoice and Aetna Better Health, and that patients…
Read MoreCharter Oak/HUSKY troubles in the news
The current problems getting providers to participate in the new Charter Oak/HUSKY plans have been hot news lately. A sampling: The Day ctnewsjunkie.com Hartford Courant Journal Inquirer New Haven Register Waterbury Republican American Kaiser Daily Health Reports Medical News Today CT Post WTIC News Talk 1080 Fox News 61 News Channel 3 Norwich Bulletin According…
Read MoreCharter Oak/HUSKY/PCCM update
DSS Comm. Mike Starkowski met with the Appropriations and Human Service Committees yesterday delivering a 72 page program update. The big news (from our perspective) is that the PCCM concept paper, drafted by a working group of DSS staff and advocates (including the CT Health Policy Project), will be submitted to the legislature next week.…
Read MoreTroubling Charter Oak call
We’ve received calls from many consumers about Charter Oak – and it is a good option for some. However yesterday we got a troubling call on our Consumer Helpline (888) 873-4585. Leslie Dmowski called the Charter Oak application number to find out how to apply. She was injured in a car accident and can no…
Read MoreWhat would you tell her?
I just returned from a wonderful trip visiting family. While I was there, I ended up in a conversation that put me in an awkward situation, given my job. I was talking with one of my sisters and some of her friends, about half of whom are uninsured. One friend, who is a self-employed 39…
Read MoreHUSKY/Charter Oak health plan rates up 24% from last year
After accounting for the impact of dental and prescription drug carve outs, the capitated rates paid to the three HUSKY HMOs – Aetna, AmeriChoice (United) and CHN – are 24% higher than the capitated rates paid to the plans last year before November. This is according to an analysis done July 17th for DSS by…
Read MoreConcerns about new Charter Oak $100,000 annual cap
On Monday, Time magazine posted a story called “Low Health Insurance Caps Leave Patients Stranded.” The article exposes the real impact of caps as low as $1 million on individuals and families who face very serious illnesses. This issue is particularly important as the new state Charter Oak Health Plan rolls out. On the day…
Read MoreFamily Values – a small but significant gap in Connecticut’s health care system
There are a number of people who cannot get healthcare coverage in Connecticut no matter where they turn: Documented immigrants over 65 years of age who have had green cards for less than 5 years. The people affected by this gap are often parents who have come to be with their children and help raise…
Read MoreCOBRA calls to Consumer Network Helpline
In the past three weeks, the Consumer Health Action Network (888-873-4585) has received a number of calls about COBRA. COBRA (which stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is the federal law that allows workers and their dependents to continue group health coverage at their own expense after employer coverage ends because of termination,…
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