Opinion: Don’t let immigration status decide who gets care in CT

CT Mirror – Tuesday, September 9, 2025
By Teresa Elmore, MD

Teresa Elmore, MD, is a physician in New Haven.

Healthcare for teenagers and young adults is vitally important. It is a time of transition when physicians can make a real difference by screening for mood disorders, substance use, school concerns, and sexually transmitted infections. For thousands of teenagers in Connecticut, this healthcare is inaccessible due to their documentation status. Husky 4 Immigrants is looking to change that.

As an internal medicine – pediatrics physician in New Haven, I see young patients in my office for a wide range of reasons. Whether it’s a broken bone or a vaccine visit, consistent care is necessary to identify concerns and intervene early in a young person’s life. The biggest barrier to healthcare access is insurance coverage. In Connecticut, Husky Medicaid covers children up to 15 years of age regardless of immigration status. But for noncitizens aged 16 and older, healthcare is limited to emergency room visits or expensive self-pay options.

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