Access Health CT (AHCT) is Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, where you can shop, compare and enroll in quality health and dental plans. It is also the only place where you can qualify for financial help to lower your costs, and if eligible, enroll in no- or low-cost coverage through HUSKY Health Programs (Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)) or the Covered Connecticut Program. At AHCT, our mission is to decrease the number of uninsured residents, improve the quality of healthcare, and reduce health disparities through an innovative, competitive marketplace that empowers consumers to choose the health coverage that gives them the best value.

The Open Enrollment Period is the time when Connecticut residents can enroll in or renew Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) and Stand-Alone Dental Plans (SADPs) through Access Health CT. Residents can enroll any time of year if they qualify for HUSKY Health Programs (Medicaid/CHIP) or the Covered Connecticut Program, or are an American Indian or Alaska Native. Special Enrollment Periods are also available during the year for those experiencing a Qualifying Life Event or who become eligible for the Special Enrollment Period for Residents with Lower Income.

For General Questions & Application Help:

You can shop, compare and enroll in quality health and dental coverage online at AccessHealthCT.com, in-person at a Navigator Location, or by phone at 1-855-805-4325.

All help is free, and there are Certified Brokers available who can recommend the right plan for you.

Talking Points:

• Access Health CT is the state’s official health insurance marketplace where residents can shop, compare and enroll in quality health and dental insurance plans from insurance companies you know.
• Access Health CT is the only place where you can qualify for financial help to lower your costs or be eligible for low- or no-cost coverage through HUSKY Health (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)) or the Covered Connecticut Program.
• Part of our mission is to increase the number of insured residents in Connecticut ─ and most people qualify for financial help or are eligible for low- or no-cost coverage.
• Make sure to check with Access Health CT before choosing COBRA coverage. You may find a better, less expensive option.
• To search for a Certified Broker near you who can recommend a plan that is right for your needs and budget, visit AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help (or call Access Health CT at 1-855-805-4325).
• Visit AccessHealthCT.com and click Compare Plans to filter plan options by in-network doctors, prescriptions and types of medical services you may use to help you choose the right plan.
• There are many options to get the answers you need to enroll in health coverage. Online, in-person, on the phone. Through our call center, a Navigator, Certified Application Counselor or Broker. Via live chat or email. Get free enrollment help at AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help.
• Health insurance is puzzling — who does what? We help you shop, compare & enroll, qualify for financial help, and enroll in no- or low-cost coverage. The insurance company handles billing, copies of ID cards and detailed information on benefits/plans. Visit AccessHealthCT.com/Use-Your-Plan to learn more.
• Find an Enrollment Specialist, Certified Broker or a Navigator. Call or email us — you can even Live Chat with us!
• Get the answers you need at AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help. Online, over the phone or in-person — we are here to help and all help is FREE!AccessHealthCT.com and click Compare Plans to filter plan options by in-network doctors, prescriptions and types of medical services you may use to help you choose the right plan.

Printables Available for Download:

• Open Enrollment Checklist (English)
• Open Enrollment Checklist (Spanish)
• Open Enrollment Checklist (Haitian Creole)
• Open Enrollment Checklist (Polish)
• Open Enrollment Checklist (Haitian Creole)
• Language Help (Multilingual)
• Recently Lost Your Health Insurance? (English)
• HUSKY Contact Info Flyer (English)
• HUSKY Contact Info Flyer (Spanish)
• COBRA Flyer

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Update Your Information

Take a moment today to confirm that we have your correct contact information. We need to be able to reach you in case of any changes to your health and/or dental coverage. Help us help you! Check your account information online – and go paperless – at http://AccessHealthCT.com! @ctdss

Go Paperless

Go Paperless & receive communications via your online account!

1. Log in at AccessHealthCT.com
2. Select “Edit My Settings” from Account Home
3. In Account settings , select “I want to receive Paperless Notifications”
4. Provide/confirm your email address
5. Click “Update”

Has your contact info changed?

Let us know if any of your contact information has changed, like your phone #, mailing address or email address. It can help ensure you get important renewal reminders and updates. Log in today at AccessHealthCT.com!

Revise su información

Necesitamos poder comunicarnos con usted si hay cambio en su cobertura de salud y/o dental y los pasos que debe seguir. Ayúdenos a ayudarlo a mantenerse cubierto. ¡Revise la información de su cuenta en línea, y deje de usar papel, en AccessHealthCT.com hoy! @ctdss

Already a customer? Customers must act by January 15, 2023 to renew their health coverage for 2023. Learn more about next steps for renewing customers and how to manage your account.

All customers with a 2022 Stand-Alone Dental Plan (SADP) must take action to renew their dental coverage – it cannot be renewed automatically this year. Enroll by January 15, 2023 to have dental insurance on February 1.

Call Center

For general questions, help with your application or your account, please contact our call center. Speak with an Enrollment Specialist who can answer your questions and guide you through the enrollment process ─ in many different languages.

Call us at 1-855-805-4325, Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (Holiday hours may vary, click here for details).

Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.

Live Chat

For free online help, residents may visit AccessHealthCT.com. Click the “Live Chat” icon to connect with a Customer Service Representative in real time.

Live Chat available Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM (Holiday hours may vary, click here for details).

Events

Access Health CT team members host and attend a variety of events throughout the year. Join us to learn more about Access Health CT or get answers to your questions. Some events may require registration, so please read the full event details.

In-Person Help (Navigators)

Get one-on-one help with your questions or enrollment application from one of our Enrollment Specialists. Navigator partner locations are open year-round. Office hours vary by location. Appointments are encouraged; please call the location before you visit.

• Community Renewal Team (CRT), Navigator
• Community Health Center Association of CT (CHCACT), Navigator
• Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program (GBAPP), Navigator
• New Opportunities, Inc., Navigator

Certified Independent Broker

Brokers are trained and certified to assist with your application for health and dental coverage. They are the only ones who can recommend a specific plan for you. To find a Certified Broker, visit the Assistance Search.

Certified Application Counselor

Also called a “CAC” or Enrollment Specialist, they can answer your questions or help with your application. These trained professionals are located at places like Community Health Centers, hospitals, etc. To find a CAC near you, visit the Assistance Search.

“Medicaid Unwinding” is a term the federal government is using to describe the process of reviewing households for Medicaid eligibility.

Prior to the pandemic, annual redeterminations of eligibility for the Medicaid program occurred and terminations were processed for individuals no longer eligible for the program. During the pandemic, the redetermination process was paused, and members continued to be enrolled in Medicaid/HUSKY Health regardless of their eligibility for the program.

The federal government passed legislation, known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, which requires monthly redeterminations to restart as of March 31.

To help reduce the volume of Connecticut residents impacted at once, the Medicaid Unwinding period will be spread over 12 months, beginning March 31, 2023, and ending March 31, 2024. Unwinding efforts include steps to ensure an efficient transition back to standard operations with a focus on preventing gaps in health coverage.

Those who remain eligible for Medicaid will likely be automatically reenrolled in the program through a passive renewal process, which does not require any action by the client. Those who need to take action will receive mailed instructions.

Connecticut residents who are no longer eligible for HUSKY Health may transition into a Qualified Health Plan (QHP), and if eligible, the Covered Connecticut Program. Access Health CT will offer a 120-day ‘Medicaid Unwind’ Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for eligible individuals who lose HUSKY Health coverage on or after April 1, 2023. Under this SEP, eligible applicants can enroll in new coverage before their HUSKY Health coverage ends to avoid a gap in coverage, and also will have up to 120 days to select a QHP after their loss of coverage. An applicant’s QHP effective date will be the first day of the month following plan selection.

Talking Points:

What is Medicaid Unwinding?

• HUSKY Health is Connecticut’s Medicaid program.
• Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, HUSKY Health members were redetermined for continued eligibility on an annual basis. Coverage was terminated for individuals who were no longer eligible for the program.
• During the pandemic, that redetermination process was paused. The Medicaid continuous coverage provision meant that anyone who was already enrolled in HUSKY Health or became eligible for HUSKY Health during the pandemic could remain covered by the program regardless of eligibility.
• In December 2022, new federal legislation known as the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 was passed that issued an end date for the continuous Medicaid coverage provision. The official end date was March 31, 2023.
• Beginning April 1, 2023, all states began evaluating Medicaid clients for eligibility again on a monthly basis. This process is known as “redetermination.”  And again, the process for starting the monthly redeterminations is referred to as “Medicaid Unwinding.”
• The Connecticut Department of Social Services has worked with Access Health CT over the past year on a comprehensive, 12-month outreach and operational plan to redetermine eligibility for HUSKY Health members and resume routine public program operations.
• To help reduce the number of Connecticut residents impacted at once, the Medicaid Unwinding period will be spread over 12 months.
• After the continuous coverage period ends March 31, 2023, HUSKY Health members will begin to receive renewal notifications in the mail from the Department of Social Services.

Who will be affected?

• The majority of the approximately 434,000 Connecticut residents being redetermined will automatically be reenrolled in HUSKY Health with no further action needed from them.
• Less than a quarter of the residents being redetermined, approximately 95,000 people, may no longer be eligible for HUSKY Health and will need to take action to remain covered. They will receive a letter in the mail with instructions.
• About 95,000 Connecticut residents are expected to be eligible for a Qualified Health Plan and may also qualify for financial help in the form of premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions.
• About 30,000 Connecticut residents are expected to be eligible for the State of Connecticut Covered Connecticut Program, which provides coverage at no cost to a consumer.
• Those residents who no longer qualify for HUSKY Health may enroll in new coverage before their HUSKY Health coverage ends, and also will have a Special Enrollment Period of 120 days after their loss of Medicaid coverage to enroll in new health coverage through Access Health CT.

What can members do?

• It is important for HUSKY Health members to update their contact information so they can receive their renewal notices in a timely manner and do not experience a lapse in coverage.
• It is particularly important for residents to update their information if they have moved at any time in the last three years.
• HUSKY A, B and D members should visit AccessHealthCT.com or call 1-855-805-4325 to update their contact information. Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.
• HUSKY C members should visit MyDSS.CT.gov or call 1-855-626-6632 to update their contact information.

What can members expect?

• The Department of Social Services will contact you to complete a renewal form to see if you qualify for coverage for the next year. Starting April 1, 2023, and continuing for the following 12 months, a portion of HUSKY Health members will be sent a renewal notification. You should wait until you receive your renewal notification to take action, but you can update your contact information at any time and should do so as soon as possible to make sure you receive your notifications.
• Once you complete your renewal application, you will be notified if you remain eligible for HUSKY Health or if you qualify for other coverage options.
• When you update or confirm your application details through Access Health CT, you will get a final determination on whether your HUSKY Health coverage will be renewed or if you qualify for another program. You will see that result on the final screen of the application, and you will also receive a confirmation by mail (1-3 business days) or through your online account inbox.
• The Department of Social Services and Access Health CT have increased the number of customer service representatives available to help support the larger volume of renewal activity in the coming months.
• Access Health CT will host free in-person events to help Connecticut residents with the enrollment process.
• Those in need of help can also visit AccessHealthCT.com to speak to a customer service representative online or contact the call center for personal assistance in over 100 languages.

Printables Available for Download:

• Medicaid Unwinding Flyer (English)
• Medicaid Unwinding Flyer (Spanish)
• HUSKY Renewal Ad (English)
• HUSKY Renewal Ad (Spanish)
• HUSKY Renewal Ad (Polish)

Suggested Social Media Posts

“Medicaid Unwinding” is a term the federal government is using to describe the process of reviewing households for Medicaid eligibility. CT Department of Social Services and Access Health CT are working together to ensure that customers are well-informed and avoid any coverage gaps. Health coverage options are available through Access Health CT, including the Covered Connecticut Program, which provides no-cost coverage for eligible residents, or a Qualified Health Plan (QHP), which is often available at a low cost to residents if they qualify for financial help. Click here to learn more and see what you can do to stay covered: bit.ly/40uWyAD   ***

Take a moment today to confirm that we have your correct mailing address, phone number and email address. We need to be able to contact you in case of any changes to your health coverage and tell you what steps you should take to keep your benefits. Help us help YOU stay covered. To check or update your account information, visit portal.ct.gov/updateusDSS. Tag: CT Department of Social Services   ***

Obtenga las últimas noticias sobre sus beneficios de HUSKY/Medicaid. Tome un momento hoy para confirmar que tenemos su dirección postal, número de teléfono y dirección de correo electrónico correctos. Necesitamos poder comunicarnos con usted en caso de cualquier cambio en su cobertura de salud y decirle qué pasos debe seguir para mantener sus beneficios. Ayúdenos a ayudarlo a mantenerse cubierto. Para verificar o actualizar la información de su cuenta, visite a portal.ct.gov/updateusDSS. Tag: CT Department of Social Services   ***

Some Connecticut residents that meet certain eligibility requirements are paying $0 for their health insurance coverage through Access Health CT, thanks to the Covered Connecticut Program created by the State of Connecticut and administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. You can enroll at any time you become eligible, and your coverage starts the first of the month following your enrollment.

If you qualify, the State of Connecticut will pay your portion of the monthly payment (premium) directly to your insurance company and will also pay for the cost-sharing amounts that you would normally have to pay with a health insurance plan (such as deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance and maximum out-of-pocket costs).

The Covered Connecticut Program now provides health insurance coverage, dental coverage and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) benefits.

Residents must meet the following requirements to participate in the Covered Connecticut Program:

• Have a household income up to and including 175% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and don’t qualify for Medicaid because of household income*;
• Be eligible for financial help, including Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) and Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs), and use 100% of the financial help available to you; and
• Be enrolled in a Silver Level Plan

*If your household income qualifies you for HUSKY Health (Medicaid), you will not be able to enroll in the Covered Connecticut Program. Medicaid provides comprehensive benefits; please contact the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) for more information.

Income Guidelines for 2023 Coverage

You can enroll in the Covered Connecticut Program at any time you become eligible. Complete an application at AccessHealthCT.com and we will let you know if you qualify for the Covered Connecticut Program. You can also call us at 1-855-805-4325 for free enrollment and eligibility help. If you are deaf or hearing impaired, you may use the TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or contact us with a relay operator.

Talking Points:

• The Covered Connecticut Program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services, provides health insurance coverage, dental coverage and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) benefits at no cost to residents who meet eligibility requirements.
• There is no end date to this opportunity; you can enroll in the Covered Connecticut Program at any time you become eligible.
• Your coverage will start on the first of the month after you complete your application and enrollment. (For example, if a person enrolls on February 5, their coverage begins March 1.)
• The State of Connecticut will pay your portion of the monthly payment (premium) directly to your insurance company and will also pay for the cost-sharing amounts you would typically have to pay with a health insurance plan (such as deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, and maximum out-of-pocket costs).
• Submit an application at AccessHealthCT.com and we will let you know if you qualify for the Covered Connecticut Program. You can also call Access Health CT for free enrollment and eligibility help at 1-855-805-4325. If you are deaf or hearing impaired, you may use the TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or contact us with a relay operator.

Printables Available for Download:

• Covered Connecticut Flyer (English)
• Covered Connecticut Flyer (Spanish)

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Covered Connecticut

The Covered Connecticut Program, administered by the CT Dept. of Social Services, provides health & dental coverage and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) benefits at no cost to residents who meet eligibility requirements. Apply at AccessHealthCT.com or call 855-805-4325 to see if you qualify. Read more at bit.ly/3wJPO2a

A Special Enrollment Period is a special window of time when you can sign up for health and/or dental insurance coverage through Access Health CT. To qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you must prove that you have a Qualifying Life Event. If you have a Qualifying Life Event, your Special Enrollment Period will generally last 60 days from the date of the Event.  If you qualify for HUSKY Health (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)), the Covered Connecticut Program, or if you are an American Indian or Alaska Native, you can enroll in coverage any time of the year. Learn more about Special Enrollment Periods.

Common Qualifying Life Events

Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) open a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in health insurance any time of year. Typically, you have 60 days from the date of your QLE to begin an application. You will also be required to verify your QLE in order for your coverage to begin. Common QLEs include:

• Losing coverage through your employer or certain changes to employer contributions to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) or a Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSERA), including a gain of either one.
• Losing your coverage due to job change. Voluntary cancellation of coverage or termination by the insurer due to non-payment of monthly payments (premiums) does not qualify as a QLE.
• Losing coverage through your spouse or parent. Be sure to know when the policy will end in order to understand the best time to enroll.
• Exhaustion of COBRA coverage. Voluntary early termination of COBRA coverage does not qualify as a QLE.

Click here to see a full list of Qualifying Life Events.

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Special Enrollment

Have you lost your health insurance coverage?

Have you lost your health insurance coverage? You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Check out your coverage options with Access Health CT. To find free enrollment help, visit AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help.

¿Ha perdido su cobertura de seguro de salud?

¿Ha perdido su cobertura de seguro de salud? Puede calificar para una Inscripción Especial. Vea tus opciones de cobertura con Access Health CT. Para encontrar ayuda gratuita para la inscripción, visite AccessHealthCT.com/Casa/Obtenga-Ayuda.

Did you have a Qualifying Life Event and need health insurance?

Did you have a Qualifying Life Event and need health insurance? Find out if you qualify for free or low-cost plans through Access Health CT. Call 855-805-4325 or visit AccessHealthCT.com to live chat with us now!

¿Tuviste un evento de vida calificado y necesitas un seguro de salud?

¿Tuviste un evento de vida calificado y necesitas un seguro de salud? Averigüe si califica para planes gratuitos o de bajo costo a través de Access Health CT. ¡Llame al 855-805-4325 o visite AccessHealthCT.com para chatear en vivo con nosotros ahora!

Update us about your Qualifying Life Event

Any change in your info such as a move to CT, job loss, turning 26, marriage or new baby, should be reported within 60 days. You may even qualify for financial help. Learn more at bit.ly/3Cjd7Et.

Infórmenos  de su Evento de Vida Calificado

Cualquier cambio en su información, como mudarse a CT, pérdida de trabajo, cumplir 26 años, matrimonio o un nuevo bebé, debe informarse dentro de los 60 días. Incluso puede calificar para recibir ayuda financiera. Obtenga más información en bit.ly/3Cjd7Et.

Access Health CT is committed to increasing access to affordable health insurance coverage. This New Special Enrollment Period for Residents with Lower Income will provide access to no-cost or very low-cost health insurance made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Connecticut residents can find out if they are eligible and enroll by calling Access Health CT at 1-855-805-4325, Monday – Friday and select Saturdays (more information). Those who are deaf or hearing impaired may use the TTY at 1-855-789-2428, or contact Access Health CT with a relay operator.

Who is eligible for the New Special Enrollment Period for Residents with Lower Income?

• New or returning customers who are not currently enrolled in a health insurance plan through Access Health CT.
• Connecticut residents who are eligible for Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) and have a household income at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Special Enrollment FPL chart

Talking Points:

• This opportunity is only offered through Access Health CT.
• The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) makes health insurance coverage more affordable and accessible for many Connecticut residents by greatly reducing monthly payments (premiums) for many people who enroll through Access Health CT.
• This Special Enrollment Period gives residents with lower incomes another chance to access these additional savings on monthly bills.
• This Special Enrollment Period is open through Plan Year 2025, unless the enhanced subsidies are extended beyond 2025 through federal legislation.
• Coverage will start on the first of the month following enrollment.

Printables Available for Download:

• Special Enrollment Period for Residents with Lower Income Flyer (English)
• Special Enrollment Period for Residents with Lower Income Flyer (Spanish)

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New Special Enrollment Period for Residents with Lower Income

A new Special Enrollment Period for Residents with Lower Income allows some residents to sign up for health coverage through Access Health CT outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period. Call 855-805-4325 to see if you qualify or to enroll. Learn more at bit.ly/38v2hQU.

Health disparities are health differences that are closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. They adversely affect people based on a variety of factors including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, and geographic location, among many others.

Our mission is to decrease the number of uninsured residents, improve the quality of healthcare, and reduce health disparities through an innovative, competitive marketplace that empowers consumers to choose the coverage that give them the best value. Since 2013, Access Health CT has helped more than one million individuals and small businesses get health insurance, and we’ve helped cut Connecticut’s uninsured rate in half. This is great progress, but more must be done to reduce health disparities that persist in our state.

Learn more about our Health Equity efforts

Talking Points:

• Access Health CT works with organizations that help people navigate the enrollment and renewal process, and help people better use and understand their insurance plans.
• Access Health CT works closely with community health centers and other community partners to help people understand the importance of having and using health insurance.
• Access Health CT’s Certified Application Counselors help people enroll in health insurance, and works with Certified Brokers in all CT communities.
• Access Health CT participates in health fairs and community engagement events in communities with high levels of health disparities.
• Access Health CT reaches people at farmers markets, food pantries, churches, CT Foodbank and Foodshare events, Hartford Public Library events, vaccine clinic sites, community resource fairs, and more.
• Access Health CT has established great relationships with local businesses like grocery stores, barber shops, and salons that helps understand how Access Health help their customers and communities.

Printables Available for Download:

• Health Disparity Case Studies Flyer (English)
• Understanding underlying drivers, barriers and needs of the uninsured in Connecticut (English)
• Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health in Connecticut (English)
• Health Disparities Report: Executive Summary (English)
• Broker Academy Flyer (English)

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Health Equity

Find out how you can help us with Health Equity

For years, we have laid the groundwork to reduce health disparities in CT. Find out what we are doing about this and how you can help at AccessHealthCT.com/HealthEquity.

Learn more about Health Equity & Help Us Reduce Health Disparities

Reducing health disparities — and ultimately eliminating them — can’t be done by just one person or organization. If you’re interested in learning more & helping, fill out the contact form at AccessHealthCT.com/HealthEquity-Contact.

Get Involved in Reducing Health Disparities

Reducing health disparities — and ultimately eliminating them — can’t be done by just one person or organization. We’ve made some progress, but there is still more work to be done. Access Health CT invites and encourages you to get involved. Learn more at AccessHealthCT.com/HealthEquity.

Participe en Reducir las Disparidades de Salud

Reducir las disparidades de salud, y finalmente eliminarlas, no puede hacerlo una sola persona u organización. Hemos hecho algunos progresos, pero aún queda más trabajo por hacer. Access Health CT lo invita a participar. Obtenga más información en AccessHealthCT.com/casa/equidad-en-salud.