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 CT 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 dental plans through Access Health CT.  Residents can enroll any time of year if they qualify for HUSKY Health Programs (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)) or the Covered CT 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/or dental coverage online at AccessHealthCT.com, in-person at a Navigator Location, or by phone at 1-855-805-4325. If you are deaf or hearing impaired, you may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call us at 1-855-805-4325 with a relay operator.

All help is free, and there are Certified Brokers available who can recommend the right health and/or dental 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 no- or low-cost coverage through HUSKY Health (Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)) or the Covered CT 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 and/or dental coverage. Online, in person, or over the phone. Through our call center, a Navigator, Certified Application Counselor or Certified Broker. Via live chat or email. Get free enrollment help at AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help.
• Access Health CT can help you shop, compare and 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! 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.

Printables Available for Download:

• Enrollment Checklist (English)
•  Enrollment Checklist (Spanish)
• Enrollment Checklist (Haitian Creole)
• Enrollment Checklist (Polish)
• Feel Good Facts (English)
• Feel Good Facts (English, African-American)
• Feel Good Facts (Spanish)
• Feel Good Facts (Polish)
• Open Enrollment Checklist (Haitian Creole)
• Language Help (Multilingual)
• Recently Lost Your Health Insurance? (English)
• Recently Lost Your Health Insurance? (Spanish)
• HUSKY Contact Info Flyer (English)
• HUSKY Contact Info Flyer (Spanish)
• COBRA Flyer
• COBRA Flyer

Suggested Social Media Posts:

	Learn more about health coverage on the Access Health CT blog. New topics are added regularly. Bookmark the page and check back for information that is important to you. Read more at AccessHealthCT.com/Blog.
	If you are being offered COBRA continuation coverage, there are some things you should know before you make a final decision. Access Health CT may offer a better, less expensive health coverage option for you and your family. Learn more at bit.ly/3q4AQ9C.
	Access Health CT es el único lugar donde puede calificar para recibir ayuda financiera para reducir los costos de su seguro de salud o, si es elegible, inscribirse en un cobertura gratuita o de bajo costo a través de Medicaid/HUSKY. Obtenga más información sobre ayuda financiera para su cobertura de salud en bit.ly/3wMFKb8.
	Want to learn more about Preventive Care? How to use your plan? Medicaid Unwind? Dental insurance? Read about these topics and more in our blog at AccessHealthCT.com/Blog.
	José vive y trabaja en Hartford como paisajista. Como padre soltero, siempre está agradecido por su cobertura a través de Access Health CT. Entonces, cuando recibió una carta que necesitaba renovar manualmente su cobertura, supo que necesitaba ayuda, porque inglés no es su primer idioma. Afortunadamente, podemos ayudar a personas como José a mantenerse cubiertas. Ofrecemos un proceso de renovación simplificado y hay ayuda disponible desde el centro de llamadas en varios idiomas. Podemos guiarlo a través del proceso con ayuda gratuita en persona, en línea o por teléfono. También hay ayuda financiera disponible. Encuentre opciones para obtener ayuda gratuita con la inscripción hoy en AccessHealthCT.com/casa/Obtenga-Ayuda.
	There are so many ways to get enrollment help or answers to the questions you have about health coverage. Visit our website at AccessHealthCT.com and click on the Get Help tab to find out which way we can help you.

Do your part to stay covered! Make sure Access Health CT and/or the Connecticut Department of Social Services has the most up-to-date information about your household, including your annual income, address and phone number. Consider providing your email address, opting to receive text messages or selecting paperless delivery for important notifications. Learn more about how to manage your account.

Suggested Social Media Posts:

Preventive care — things like annual physical exams, immunizations and cancer screenings — is an important part of good health. Be more proactive with your health and learn how to use your plan at AccessHealthCT.com/Use-Your-Plan.

Call Center

For general questions, or help with your application or 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  8:00am to 4:00pm (Holiday hours may vary, click here for details).

Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm

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 is available Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 3:45 pm (Holiday hours may vary, click here for details).Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 3:45 pm

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. View all events »

In-Person Help (Navigators)

Get one-on-one help with your questions or enrollment application from one of our Enrollment Specialists or Certified Brokers. You can visit a Navigator or make an appointment with a Certified Broker. All help is free.

Navigators

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

Certified Brokers are trained and certified to assist with your application for health and/or dental coverage. They are the only ones who can recommend a specific plan for you, and you can get their advice for free. 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 required monthly redeterminations to restart as of March 31, 2023.

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/or a Stand-Alone Dental Plan (SADP), and if eligible, the Covered CT 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. To avoid a gap in coverage, eligible applicants can enroll into a QHP before their HUSKY Health coverage ends with such coverage being effective on the first day of the month following the loss of HUSKY Health coverage. Under the Medicaid Unwind SEP, eligible applicants will also have up to 120 days to select a QHP after their loss of coverage with such QHP effective date being 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, 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 Tax Credits and Cost-Sharing Reductions.
• About 30,000 Connecticut residents are expected to be eligible for the State of Connecticut Covered CT Program, which provides coverage at no cost to a consumer.

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 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 may 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

	Uninsured? No longer qualify for Medicaid/HUSKY? Make sure your family doesn’t miss out! There are full coverage options available at little or no cost, and most people qualify for some type of financial help to pay for coverage. To get started, visit AccessHealthCT.com and click “Compare Plans”.
	Your time may be running out! If you lose Medicaid/HUSKY coverage, you will have up to 120 days to select a plan. Learn what to do to stay covered at AccessHealthCT.com.
	No longer eligible for Medicaid/HUSKY? Don’t lose your health coverage! You may be able to enroll in a Qualified Health Plan through Access Health CT. Shop, compare & enroll at AccessHealthCT.com.
	Be sure to look for a letter in the mail about your Medicaid/HUSKY coverage. Take action if you need health and/or dental coverage.
	Don’t lose your coverage! Update your contact info to receive Medicaid/HUSKY renewal notices. Start at AccessHealthCT.com.

Some Connecticut residents who meet certain eligibility requirements are paying $0 for their health insurance coverage through Access Health CT, thanks to the Covered CT 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-payments, co-insurance and maximum out-of-pocket costs).

The Covered CT 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 CT 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 Advance 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 CT Program. Medicaid provides comprehensive benefits; please contact the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) for more information.

Income Guidelines for 2024 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 CT 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. This Program is for residents between the ages of 19-64.
• There is no end date to this opportunity; you can enroll in the Covered CT 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-payments, 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 CT 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)

Suggested Social Media Posts:

Some Connecticut residents that meet certain eligibility requirements are paying $0 for their health insurance coverage, thanks to the Covered Connecticut Program. You can enroll at any time you become eligible, and your coverage starts the first of the month following your enrollment. Learn more about the Covered Connecticut Program in our blog at bit.ly/468W711.

A Special Enrollment Period is a special window of time outside of the Open Enrollment Period 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 CT 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 and/or dental 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) is not a valid 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 is not a valid QLE.

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

Suggested Social Media Posts:

Open Enrollment is currently closed. But what if you need health insurance now? If you have a Qualifying Life Event, such as getting married, having a baby or moving to CT, you can obtain health coverage with a Special Enrollment Period. Learn more about Special Enrollment and Qualifying Life Events at AccessHealthCT.com/special-enrollment.

Access Health CT is committed to increasing access to affordable health insurance coverage. A 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).

Income Guidelines for 2024 Coverage

Talking Points:

• This Special Enrollment Period 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)

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 coverage, 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 and dental insurance.
• Access Health CT’s Certified Application Counselors help people enroll in health and dental insurance, and work 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.

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)
• Back to School Flyer (English)
• Back to School Flyer (Spanish)
• Back to School Flyer (Portuguese)

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Reducing health disparities can’t be done by just one person or organization. We want to join community partners in the efforts to improve health equity for CT residents. Help us help your community. Learn more at AccessHealthCT.com/healthequity.