WEEKLY UPDATE: 01/15/26
On Thursday, January 8, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to restore Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits for three years, retroactive to January 1, 2026, when the subsidies expired. It is unclear if the U.S. Senate will take up the House-passed legislation, advance its own legislation, or take no action to extend the enhanced tax credits.
The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) released a statement applauding the bipartisan vote and thanking Connecticut’s congressional delegation for their continued leadership and unwavering commitment to ensuring individuals and families can obtain and maintain health insurance coverage.
“The elimination of these tax credits jeopardizes insurance for thousands of Connecticut residents, leading to patients delaying care and increasing uncompensated care costs — which hurts patients and places significant strain on hospitals and the entire healthcare delivery system,” the CHA statement reads. “Connecticut hospitals stand ready to work with federal and state policymakers to advance solutions that lower costs, strengthen coverage, protect patients, and support a stable and resilient healthcare delivery system.”
CHA voiced appreciation for the Lamont administration taking important steps at the state level to help preserve access to coverage, including by earmarking $120 million from the recently created $500 million Emergency State Response Reserve to replace all or some of the lost federal subsidies for eligible enrollees over the next 18 months.
Connecticut is also one of a handful of states that have extended the annual open enrollment period for exchange plans. Access Health CT (AHCT), the state’s health insurance exchange marketplace, announced that customers now have an extra two weeks, through January 31, to purchase a health or dental plan for coverage effective February 1. AHCT has elevated outreach efforts to help customers shop for coverage, hosting enrollment fairs throughout this week, expanding its navigator program to include six locations around the state, and introducing a new mobile enrollment team that supports community events and assists with in-person enrollment available in English and Spanish.
“While these efforts are critical, federal action remains essential to achieving a long-term, sustainable solution that ensures individuals and families can get and keep the coverage they need,” CHA’s statement continued.
President Donald Trump, on Sunday, January 11, said he might veto the House-passed legislation to reestablish the lapsed subsidies.
Related News:
Connecticut Health Insurance Marketplace Extends Open Enrollment to January 31
