Call Upon the Appropriations Committee to Expand HUSKY A Coverage to More Parents & Cover Immigrants

Call Upon the Appropriations Committee to Expand HUSKY A Coverage to More Parents & Cover Immigrants

 The state budget hearings are currently being held and on Friday, February 21st the DSS budget hearing will occur. NASW/CT and other Medicaid advocates are calling for an expansion of coverage eligibility under HUSKY A for parents up to 201% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). NASW/CT is also calling for HUSKY to cover immigrants regardless of immigration status. WE NEED YOU TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR(S) ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AND ASK FOR THIS HUSKY EXPANSION.

 HUSKY A PARENTS TALKING POINTS

  • When the parents are not covered by health insurance the children are much less likely to be brought to health care appointments. Denying parents coverage is really denying children even with the children are on HUSKY.
  • Health insurance coverage is unaffordable for most parents with low incomes, even when it is subsidized under AccessHealth.
  • Lack of health coverage causes an increase in uncompensated care costs.
  • Parents do not receive preventative care and when they seek care for illnesses, they tend to be much sicker.
  • Black and Latino parents are disproportionately affected by lack of coverage.
  • Unless coverage eligibility is expanded current HUSKY A Parents may be among the first low income persons to hit the “benefit cliff” where the increase in minimum wage pushes them over the current maximum income eligibility.

 IMMIGRANTS TALKING POINTS

 All of the above points apply.

  • It is estimated that uninsured rates for foreign born, non-citizens (legal permanent residents) is over 30%.
  • It is estimated that the uninsured rate for the undocumented population is over 50%.

 ACTION NEEDED

Call or email your State Representative and urge them to expand HUSKY coverage to parents up to 201% of the FPL and to immigrants. The Legislature will be working on adjustments to the state budget so now is the time to act.

Not sure who represents you? Go to https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp

To read NASW/CT testimony go to https://naswct.org/testimony/testimony-on-h-b-5005-an-act-adjusting-the-state-budget-for-the-biennium-ending-june-30-2021/

Remember to say you are a constituent and a Social Worker.

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