Klarides-Ditria: CT Children's offers Back to School kit, insurance rate change info

I hope your summer has been relaxing and you’ve been able to catch up with friends and family.  As August winds down and summer starts to quietly slip away I want to keep you up to date on a few important items. Earlier this week, I sent an eblast regarding sales tax free week this coming Sunday, August 15-22, and now Connecticut Children’s is reminding people that the back-to-school transition can sometimes be an adjustment for families, especially this year given the ongoing pandemic. To help families navigate the new school year, they just launched a Back to School Kit that includes: What to do When Your Child Doesn’t Want to Go Back to School When Will a COVID-19 Vaccine Be Ready for Kids Under 12? 10 Steps to a Better Morning! Boost Your Child’s School Routine And much more! Visit connecticutchildrens.org/backtoschool

Sincerely,

This is a press release from state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria's office.

Klarides-Ditria offers info on special Access Health CT enrollment

Dear Neighbors,

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to threaten public health and cause employment disruptions, ACCESS HEALTH CT has created a SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD and will be accepting enrollments through Thursday April 2, 2020. To see if you qualify, you will need to call them at 855-365-2428 between 8AM - 5PM, Monday - Friday.

What is different about this NEW Special Enrollment Period and Existing Special Enrollment Periods?

Uninsured individuals can sign up for health insurance coverage through Access Health CT during the NEW Special Enrollment Period from Thursday, March 19 – Thursday, April 2, 2020.
The effective date of coverage for all enrollments during the NEW Special Enrollment Period will be April 1, 2020.
The only way to sign up for this NEW Special Enrollment Period is by calling 855-365-2428.
Individuals who experience a Qualifying Life Event (e.g. loss of coverage due to job change or unemployment) or qualify for Medicaid/Children’s Health Program (CHIP), can ALWAYS enroll online, in-person or over the phone and all help is free.

For more information on this SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD, please go to learn.accesshealthct.com.

If you have any questions or concerns on this or any other issue, please contact me at Nicole.Klarides-Ditria@housegop.ct.gov or call 860-240-8700.

Sincerely,

State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host free talk about Medicare, Medigap, more

Contributed photo

DERBY - The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital will host a free presentation on Medicare and related health care decisions at 10 a.m. Oct. 8.

Joe Deegan, a counselor for Connecticut’s programs for Health insurance, Outreach, Information and Eligibility Screening (CHOICES), will host “Medicare CHOICES,” a presentation to help older adults and those eligible for Medicare and their caregivers make informed health insurance decisions and to help prevent, detect and report health care fraud and abuse. There will be information on Medicare, Medigap, Medicare Managed Care, Medicaid, Long Term Care Insurance and other related state and federal programs.

Series of educational forums

This program is part of a series of free, educational forums hosted by the Community Health Resource Center in an effort to help improve the health of the community.

To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah at 203-732-7399.

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle related materials. 

The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness and play an active role in decisions about their health.

Shelton woman donates $700 to cardiac rehab at Griffin Hospital in Derby

Karynn Weinstein, left, presents Griffin Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Director Eunice A. Lisk with a $700 donation to help cardiac rehabilitation patients pay for their health insurance co-pays./ Contributed photo


DERBY - Karynn Weinstein of Shelton recently donated $700 to Griffin Hospital's Development Fund to help cardiac rehabilitation patients cover their health insurance co-pays.

Weinstein is a disabled community member with a professional background in physical education and exercise physiology. 

In 2017, she started A Divine Universe For All in 2017, a 50l(C)(3) charity to help people in need with life-saving medical treatments and medication, debt, and mortgage mediations and modifications.

For more information about Griffin Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program, visit griffinhealth.org. 

For more information about A Divine Universe For All, contact Weinstein at 203-456-1840 or karynn-weinstein@sbcglobal.net, or visit adivineuniverseforall.com.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Gentile hails House approval of state employee concession plan

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda Gentile, D-Ansonia/Derby, applauds the House approval of a $1.2 billion state employee concession plan that will enact several significant structural changes and save $24 billion over the life of the agreement.

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

This is an historic agreement that prioritizes structural, verifiable reductions to long-term pension and benefit costs, while also achieving significant savings in the coming biennium. 
This groundbreaking agreement substantially reduces the unfunded liability for both the state employee retirement system and our retiree health benefits trust fund.

Under this labor deal, the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition has agreed to zero wage increases for three years, higher health co-pays and premiums, and three unpaid furlough days in 2017-18.

“This labor agreement is the first step toward solving our budget deficit as it adopts a spending plan that generates new revenue, restructures our pension system into the future, while respecting the promises made in the past, and takes advantage of our demographic reality,” Gentile said. 

“This deal will put Connecticut on the path to financial sustainability, produce immediate savings in healthcare and enact several significant structural changes by gradually shifting costs onto employees and retirees into the future.”

Other structural changes include overtime capped at 60 percent, health insurance redesign, pension reforms, increased co-pays, premium cost sharing and COLA reforms. 

Additionally, the plan will require all employees to pay 2 percent more into their pension over biennium and establish a new tier IV of employees going forward that will have a defined benefit and contribution plan.

In regards to savings, this agreement:

• Saves taxpayers approximately $710 million in Fiscal Year 2018 and $850 million in Fiscal Year 2019,
• Savings grows to $24 billion over the next 20 years,
• Turns a $20.7 billion unfunded liability into a $1.5 billion surplus over 30 years.

This is a press release from the House Democrats' office.

Crisco displeased with health insurance rate hikes

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, today expressed his displeasure with the size and scope of the various private health insurance rate hikes approved last week by the state Insurance Department, though Crisco also noted the good news that some large insurance companies covering more than 136,000 state residents were told to go back to the drawing board and re-submit their rate requests.

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

Late last Friday, state Insurance Commissioner Katherine L. Wade announced the state Insurance Department made rulings on 17 rate filings from 12 companies selling individual and small group plans that cover approximately 300,000 people in Connecticut. 

Rate hikes averaging 2.6 to 27.9 percent were approved for individual and small group plans covering more than 146,000 people, while rate hikes covering 136,000 people were disapproved; insurers have until tomorrow to re-submit new, proposed rates.

On Aug. 3, when the Insurance Department held its public hearing on the proposed private insurance company rate hikes, Crisco testified against any rate increases.

“Anthem had first-quarter profits of three-quarters of a billion dollars, and their stock price went up $2.63 a share. Aetna’s second quarter earnings were $783 million, or $2.21 per share. They are making money hand over fist and claiming they need double-digit rate hikes just to keep their heads above water,” Crisco said today. 

“I’m familiar with the concepts of profit and medical inflation, but I’m also familiar with the necessity of health insurance and the average person’s ability to pay. Health care profits should be used as a factor in determining health insurance rate hikes; if they are not, we are only headed toward a two-tier system of health insurance in this country, and that is not good for America or for any family’s health.”

Wade noted in her Friday decision that the state Insurance Department conducted thorough actuarial reviews on each rate request and made its decisions based on several factors, including rising health care costs, increased demand for services, and significantly higher prescription drug costs.

This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Griffin Hospital in Derby offers health insurance enrollment help

DERBY - In an effort to help community members who are among the estimated 14,000 individuals across Connecticut who no longer qualify for Medicaid HUSKY A, Griffin Hospital is offering free, one-on-one help from a certified Access Health CT assister.

The Rev. Esther Jones, of Griffin Hospital’s Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nursing Program, is available by appointment to offer guidance for selecting health care coverage, verify that all paperwork is completed properly, check for financial aid opportunities, and help complete enrollment.

Appointment times and dates are flexible to work with busy schedules, however appointments are required to receive assistance.

Call 203-732-1523 or email ejones@griffinhealth.org for more information and to set up an appointment.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Crisco opposes proposed insurance rate hikes

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco testifies before state Insurance Department. / Submitted photo

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, who is Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, testified Wednesday morning before the state Insurance Department in opposition to proposed health insurance rate increases as requested by Anthem, ConnectiCare, and Aetna.

While noting that the Connecticut legislature has done much in recent years to support both Connecticut’s insurance industry and its insurance consumers Crisco was unequivocal in his opposition to the proposed rate hikes.

“I come to oppose any increase in these requests, and I base my opposition on the net income of these insurance companies,” Crisco testified, noting that just last week,  Anthem - which is seeking a 27 percent rate increase - reported that its second-quarter 2016 net income was more than three-quarters of a billion dollars. “I think it is time we consider the net income of these insurance companies, so I ask the department to reject any rate increases whatsoever.” 

Anthem is seeking an average 26.8 percent increase for the 56,700 people covered under individual plans in Connecticut, and is also seeking an average 14.3 percent increase for the 42,200 people it covers in its “small group” plan for employers with 50 or fewer employees. 
ConnectiCare is seeking an average 14.3 percent rate increase on the 47,595 people it covers in Connecticut under individual plans.

According to published news reports, the proposed rate increases are higher than the 9.6 percent impact of medical cost inflation and increased demand for those services.

The state Insurance Department has the authority to reject or modify rates requests, based on its review of the filings.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Crisco awaits hearing on proposed Cigna-Anthem merger

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said today he is eagerly awaiting the state-mandated public hearing that must be held by the Connecticut Insurance Department regarding the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger.

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco

Connecticut General Statutes Section 38a-132 requires the state Insurance Department to hold a public hearing within 30 days of receiving a comprehensive packet of information (called a ‘Form A’ application) from any entity seeking to purchase or control a Connecticut-based insurance company. 

Anthem, Inc. - headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind. - is seeking to acquire Cigna, headquartered in Bloomfield, therefore triggering the Form A application and the necessary public hearing.

Crisco was one of 19 signatories to a May 13, 2016 letter to Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Katherine Wade seeking a series of public hearings on the proposed merger, as well as granting intervenor status to consumer advocates and commissioning a study of the economic and health care impacts of the proposed merger.

Crisco noted that Florida, California, and Indiana have already held public hearings on the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger which, if successful, would create one of the largest health insurance companies in America.

“Connecticut consumers will be well served by having their voices heard regarding this proposed merger, and it doesn’t have to be limited to a single public hearing. We could have a series of public hearings across the state, much the same way the governor and other elected officials have sought to inform the public and elicit their input on a variety of important issues,” Crisco said. 
“We need to know what impact such a huge merger would have on health insurance premiums in Connecticut, on access, and on patient care. In my opinion, public hearings are as much a fundamental part of the merger review process as looking at issues like company balance sheets and plan enrollments.”

If the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger is ultimately approved by dozens of U.S. states, state attorney generals, the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Justice Department, the resulting company would control 64 percent of the health insurance market in Connecticut, allowing that single company greater control of provider networks, physician reimbursement rates, insurance premiums, and deductibles.


This is a press release from Crisco's office. 

Crisco honored for work on mental health law

 State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., center, with Keep The Promise Vice-Chairs Paul Acker and Kristie Barber. /Contributed photo

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, was honored Thursday by a mental health advocacy group for his commitment to helping expand the services that certain health insurance policies must cover for mental and nervous conditions.

The Keep the Promise Coalition honored Crisco with its 2015 Legislative Leadership Award “in recognition of your legislative leadership to improve and protect the mental health system for people living with health challenges.”

“We understand it is the governor and the legislature who make the budgets that can make or break what we live,” said Keep The Promise Vice-Chair Kristie Barber. “We are here to thank Senator Crisco today for his pivotal support.”

“There’s an old saying that goes, if you make one person’s life easier, you have been successful. The Keep The Promise Coalition has made many people’s lives successful, and I am happy to have played a small role in that success,” Crisco said.

That support that Crisco was lauded for includes not only his vote for state funding for mental health programs, but also Crisco’s lead role in drafting and passing Senate Bill 1085, “An Act Concerning Health Insurance Coverage for Mental or Nervous Conditions.”

Under this new law, insurance policies’ coverage for mental or nervous conditions must include general inpatient hospitalization and outpatient hospital services, psychiatric inpatient hospitalization and outpatient hospital services, intensive outpatient services, and partial hospitalization.

Keep The Promise is a Connecticut Coalition of advocates (people living with mental illness, family members, mental health professionals and interested community members) dedicated to ensuring that a comprehensive, community mental health system is created and sustained for children, adults and families in Connecticut.

The Keep the Promise coalition was formed in 1999 by people living with mental illness, family members, providers and other advocates; it advocates for focusing on cost- effective, preventative, early intervention and community mental health services, supports and housing.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Griffin Hospital offers health insurance enrollment help

DERBY - Individuals interested in enrolling in Access Health CT can get free, one-on-one help from a certified assister at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St.

The Rev. Esther Jones, of Griffin Hospital’s Community Outreach and Valley Parish Nursing Program, is available by appointment to offer guidance for selecting health care coverage, verify that all paperwork is completed properly, check for financial aid opportunities, and help complete enrollment.

Appointment times and dates are flexible to work with busy schedules, however appointments are required to receive assistance.

Call 203-732-1523 or e-mail ejones@griffinhealth.org for more information and to set up an appointment.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital. 

Griffin Hospital in Derby to host insurance talk

DERBY - Griffin Hospital’s Community Health Resource Center, 130 Division St., invites the community to a free talk about health insurance at 2 p.m. Jan. 13.

Certified Health Insurance Assister Margaret Sessa will provide information on navigating Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange. 

Access Health CT assisters offer guidance when selecting coverage, verify that all paperwork is completed properly, check if an individual qualifies for financial aid, and help complete enrollment.

This free program is part of the Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital’s Planetree Programs Health Education, a series of forums to help improve the health of the community.
To register or for more information, call Kerry or Deborah, 203-732-7399.

The Community Health Resource Center at Griffin Hospital is a traditional library that provides an array of medical and health information, including a large collection of easy to read health and lifestyle-related materials. 

The Center is open to the public to educate themselves on ways to enhance their well-being, prevent illness and play an active role in decisions about their health.

This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.

Griffin to host talk about health insurance exchange

DERBY - Looking for information about getting health insurance through the state health care exchange?

Griffin Hospital will host “Health Insurance – Get It and Get the Most Out of It” at 6 p.m. Dec. 16 in the hospital’s Meditation and Learning Center, 130 Division St.


Hosted by Certified Health Insurance Assister Margaret Sessa, and Dr. Elizabeth Arbia, of Shelton Primary Care, this free talk will provide information on navigating Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange, and about the benefits of establishing a “medical home” with a primary care physician.


When it comes to taking care of your health, having health insurance is just a start. Creating a relationship with a primary care physician, also known as a primary care provider, can help you manage your health and save money.

Primary care physicians care for their patients as entire persons. They get to know their patients personally and understand their patients’ medical history so they can recognize changes in a patient’s health and provide one-on-one information about preventative care or how to manage chronic illness. 
Primary care physicians can also act as an advocate for patients with the insurance company if special treatment is needed.

Dr. Arbia will also highlight the importance of regular physicals and what tests are recommended for individuals as they age.

In addition to the free talk, members of Griffin Hospital’s Valley Parish Nurse Program will provide free blood pressure screenings and consultation for attendees. Blood pressure is considered one of the most important health screenings a person can get because high blood pressure has no symptoms so can’t be detected without being measured. High blood pressure greatly increases your risk of heart disease and stroke – two of the largest causes of natural death in the country.

This talk is part of Griffin Hospital's Healthy U program, a series of free wellness talks featuring Griffin Hospital medical experts and community partners providing trusted health information and answers to questions on a wide range of topics. 
Light refreshments will be served.

To reserve a spot or for more information, call 203-732-1511 or visit the calendar at griffinhealth.org.


This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.