AN ACT INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

That chapter 700c of the general statutes be amended to increase access to health care by: (1) Requiring each Connecticut resident to show proof of health insurance coverage; (2) making it unlawful for any resident to be without health insurance coverage for more than six consecutive months; (3) requiring any individual who is eligible for or receiving state sponsored assistance who has a dependent child to enroll the child in the HUSKY Plan, if such child is eligible, or show proof that the child has existing coverage; (4) increasing funding for HUSKY outreach programs; (5) allowing private health insurance providers to establish up to five new health insurance plans which shall be exempt from certain state health insurance mandates so as to provide many different and affordable options of health insurance plans for individuals, families and employers; (6) allowing small businesses, defined as fifty employees or less, to participate in such new health plans; (7) allowing individuals to purchase such new health insurance plans, independent of their employment status and regardless of whether or not their employer participates in such new health insurance plans; (8) allowing a deduction of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by individuals for health insurance premiums; (9) allowing previously uninsured small businesses to be eligible for a tax credit to assist them in affording such new health insurance plans; (10) increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates for providers in order to increase the number of quality healthcare providers available and willing to provide services to Medicaid recipients so as to provide quality healthcare; and (11) creating a state sponsored health insurance subsidy program, to be designated the "Deferred Health Insurance Payment Program", for individuals with income levels between one hundred fifty and four hundred per cent of the federal poverty level.

Statement of Purpose:

To provide quality affordable healthcare by promoting better access to the healthcare system for all the residents of the state and allowing them to choose from many different healthcare options that best fit their needs.