WEEKLY UPDATE: 01/29/26
Governor Ned Lamont on Thursday, January 29, announced his administration has submitted a supplemental plan to the bipartisan leaders of the Connecticut General Assembly to direct an additional $18.7 million in funding from the $500 million Emergency State Response Reserve to health and human services.
This second plan, which supplements Lamont’s initial plan submitted in December, will support items necessary for food and nutrition assistance, Medicaid assistance, youth mental health services in schools, and children’s wraparound services, including healthcare and childcare.
As part of the governor’s initial plan, about $115 million of the $167.9 million in expenditures is being used to:
- Replace the expired enhanced premium tax credits for residents enrolled in Covered CT (in the amount of $62,100,000)
- Fully fund the expired subsidies for consumers with incomes between 100-200% of the federal poverty level and who are not enrolled in the Covered CT program — up to $15,650 for an individual and $32,150 for a four-person household — and replace half of the expired enhanced subsidies for those with incomes between 400-500% of the federal poverty level — individuals earning up to $62,600 and families earning up to $128,600 (in the amount of $50,760,000)
Barring objections from legislative leaders, the transfers out of the reserve fund total about $187 million, leaving about $313 million in the account. Any emergency fund dollars that aren’t allocated by the start of the 2026 Legislative Session on February 4 will return to the Budget Reserve Fund.
Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange Subsidies: Special Enrollment Period for Eligible Customers Starts February 1
Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, announced it will offer a special enrollment period for eligible customers to enroll in health coverage with the new state subsidy starting Sunday, February 1. The end date for the special enrollment period is to be determined. The special enrollment period is separate from the open enrollment period, which was extended to Saturday, January 31.
While customers will not see the state subsidy amount in AHCT’s online system until all updates have been made in the coming weeks, all eligible customers will soon receive a notice in the mail from AHCT with the amount of their state subsidy. Insurance companies will send consumers updated premium bills with the credit for the state subsidy amount.
Congress allowed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced subsidies to lapse at the turn of the year, after failing to pass legislation for an extension by the December 31 deadline. Connecticut is one of a handful of states that have stepped up to fill the gaps for those who lost federal financial assistance.
Related News:
State Update on Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange Subsidies
Congress Unveils Bipartisan Healthcare Deal Tied to Government Funding Package
U.S. House Advances Legislation To Restore Enhanced Health Insurance Exchange Subsidies
Connecticut Health Insurance Marketplace Extends Open Enrollment to January 31
