Health Care
I strongly support making quality health care more accessible and more affordable for every American. The Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, but it is a significant step in the right direction. Many of its reforms are making a tremendous difference for people across Connecticut, and we can be proud that our state is leading the way in successfully and responsibly expanding access to health care. While I believe we can and should enact adjustments and improvements to the Affordable Care Act, repeal is not a solution. I’ve consistently opposed bills that would fully repeal the Affordable Care Act or block implementation of the law.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, over half a million Connecticut residents have enrolled for health insurance through our state's marketplace. Additionally, over 47,500 Connecticut residents have already received $3.4 billion in rebates from insurance companies due to the ACA requirement that insurance companies spend at least 80% of premiums each year on actual medical expenses for patients or provide a refund to beneficiaries.
Connecticut residents and businesses owners can shop for plans in our state’s health insurance marketplace, Access Health CT. The Open Enrollment period for 2015 coverage ended on February 15, 2015, but some residents may be eligible to buy health insurance until April 30, 2015. You can compare plans and shop for coverage online at www.accesshealthct.com or call 1‐855‐805-HEALTH (4325) to speak with a representative.Learn more here.
For more information on my work and views on education or to let me know your thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
More on Health Care
House Speaker Paul Ryan’s declaration that fellow Republicans in Congress will move to defund Planned Parenthood sparked a response from the organization’s Connecticut chapter and from the state’s federal lawmakers condemning the GOP’s plan.
According to CNN, Ryan made the announcement during a news conference on Capitol Hill as part of the GOP’s process of repealing Obamacare. Many Republicans have long opposed funding Planned Parenthood because of its abortion services.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation are applauding an announcement made today from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the State of Connecticut will receive approximately $44.5 million in federal grants to help support the state’s goal of ending homelessness.
TORRINGTON >> U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty and Sen. Richard Blumenthal discussed the challenges of coming to the aid of those struggling with opiate addiction with an array of local stakeholders Tuesday, during a forum at the McCall Center for Behavioral Health.
Esty and Blumenthal noted the recent passage of legislation — the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, known as CARA, and the continuing budget resolution, which Esty said allocates $500 million towards addressing opioid issues.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) today applauded the inclusion of provisions to support summer nutrition for low-income children and prevent lead contamination in our water infrastructure in the continuing resolution to fund the government through April 28, 2017.
“Every child needs and deserves healthy meals and clean water. These are not partisan issues,” Esty said. “This funding represents smart, critical investments in our nation’s children, and I’m proud we could work in a bipartisan way to make them a reality.