HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS

You asked for health insurance options for a young couple who both work but whose employers do not offer insurance.

There are various options for people whose employers do not offer health insurance, depending on their individual circumstances. Options include individual insurance policies, high-deductible plans, association policies, short-term medical plans, the state high-risk pool (Health Reinsurance Association), and publicly-funded health care.

The insurance department provides contact information for companies approved to issue individual health insurance policies, the Health Reinsurance Association, and high-deductible insurance plans on its web site, at http: //www. ct. gov/cid/cwp/view. asp?a=1267&q=254440 (copy enclosed).

Also, PA 05-253 requires the insurance commissioner, after consulting with the social services commissioner and healthcare advocate, to develop a public outreach program by January 1, 2006 to educate health care consumers about the various health care options in Connecticut. The insurance department will post information on its web site.

A young couple whose employers do not offer group health insurance has other options for obtaining insurance and health care, including:

1. an individual insurance policy;

2. a high-deductible insurance plan sold in conjunction with a health savings account;

3. a policy through an alumni or professional association;

4. a short-term medical policy, which typically provides coverage for only a short time, such as six months;

5. a Health Reinsurance Association policy (Connecticut’s high-risk pool for people who cannot get other insurance because of pre-existing conditions);

6. HUSKY A (Medicaid) if the family’s income is very low;

7. Medicaid if the couple has no children and one spouse is disabled;

8. medical assistance under the State-Administered General Assistance (SAGA) program for childless people who do not qualify for Medicaid but have very low incomes and assets;

9. seeking treatment at community clinics, also often known as federally-qualified health centers, that concentrate on serving the uninsured and underserved and will allow patients to pay for medical services on a sliding scale based on their income; and

10. federal Medicare for qualifying disabled people who have worked a sufficient time to qualify or have spouses whose work qualified them.


November 1, 2005		2005-R-0795
HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS

By: Janet L. Kaminski, Associate Legislative Attorney