WEEKLY UPDATE: 01/08/26
Access Health CT (AHCT), the state’s health insurance exchange marketplace, has extended its annual open enrollment period to the end of the month. Customers now have an extra two weeks, through January 31, to purchase a health or dental plan for coverage effective February 1. This comes after pandemic-era Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced subsidies expired at the turn of the year.
In a Capitol news briefing this week, state officials announced they are negotiating with exchange carriers to extend the enrollment deadline further to the end of February. They highlighted that 2026 exchange enrollment numbers are up 3-5% from the same time last year, totaling nearly 150,000 enrollments, according to the latest data through January 2. Officials credit the increase to the state’s one-year stopgap plan to replace the federal subsidies and continuous communication with the Connecticut public.
Governor Ned Lamont announced in December that funds from the state’s recently created $500 million Emergency State Response Reserve will be 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)
The governor and AHCT CEO James Michel said due to these state subsidies, most exchange customers’ premiums will remain unchanged from last year, and some may even pay less out of pocket. AHCT is reaching out to eligible customers who chose a lower-tiered plan before the December announcement to inform them about their enhanced coverage options at the same price.
The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) continues to engage with the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) and AHCT on coordinating opportunities to mitigate the impact of federal changes on health insurance access and enrollment.
Congress Continues Federal Government Funding Negotiations To Avert Shutdown
On Monday, January 5, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) hosted a congressional news briefing at the State Capitol with Connecticut Healthcare Advocate Kathleen Holt and Connecticut Citizen Action Group Executive Director Tom Swan to call on Congress to renew the federal enhanced premium tax credits.
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on legislation that would renew the enhanced subsidies for three years, retroactive to January 1. The U.S. Senate rejected the same bill last month.
“I am always open to offers of compromise that are realistic,” Blumenthal said at the news briefing. “But they have to extend the subsidies that are vital to affording healthcare insurance. Even if it’s for a shorter period of time. Even if it’s for a definite period of a year, two years.”
Debate over the enhanced subsidies extension fueled the 43-day shutdown that ended in mid-November. To advance a bipartisan deal to reopen the government, Congress promised to revisit the separate issue of enhanced subsidies and set the next funding deadline for January 30, 2026. Members passed three of the 12 full-year spending bills that fund specific government agencies until September 30, the end of the federal fiscal year. Congress will either need to pass the remaining nine spending bills or another short-term continuing resolution to avert a shutdown.
Related News:
CHA Statement on Governor Lamont’s Plan To Preserve Subsidies for Access Health CT Enrollees
U.S. House Passes GOP Healthcare Bill Without ACA Subsidies
Congress Approves Continuing Resolution To Reopen Federal Government
Federal Government Shutdown: Access Health CT Open Enrollment Begins
Federal Government Shutdown: Food Assistance and SNAP Funding
Connecticut State Leaders Advocate for Healthcare Protections Amid Federal Government Shutdown
