Conn. Gov. Lamont Marks 10th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

HARTFORD, Connecticut, March 25 -- Gov. Ned Lamont, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release:

Governor Ned Lamont marked the tenth anniversary of Affordable Care Act and its many contributions to the effort to prepare for and respond to COVID-19. President Obama signed the act into law on March 23, 2010.

Over the last decade, the ACA has provided millions of Americans access to quality, affordable health care. Here in Connecticut, that means:

* 522,000 residents with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage;

* 263,214 residents are currently insured through HUSKY D, Connecticut's first-in-the-nation Medicaid expansion program;

* 107,833 residents purchased insurance through Access Health CT this year;

* Young adults can stay on their parents' plan until age 26;

* Women can no longer be charged more than men;

* Seniors have an easier time affording prescription drugs; and

* Most health benefit plans cover free preventive services and other essential health benefits.

In the middle of the public health emergency, the Affordable Care Act is more valuable than ever.

Over just the last five days, more than 2,000 Connecticut residents have enrolled in health care coverage made possible by the ACA: 1,351 in HUSKY D (Medicaid) and 678 in individual market plans sold through Access Health CT, including through a new special enrollment period for uninsured residents created as part of the state's response to COVID-19. Thanks to those enrollments and the state's historically low uninsured rate, Connecticut families will receive care without incurring significant medical debt, and Connecticut hospitals facing an unprecedented strain on their resources will have lower uncompensated care costs.

Additionally, all Connecticut residents in ACA-regulated plans have coverage for essential health benefits, including the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. And once a vaccine has been developed and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the ACA will require plans cover it free of charge.

"Connecticut led the nation in delivering on the full potential of the Affordable Care Act," Governor Lamont said. "The ACA provides our residents with affordable, high-quality health insurance and protects women, seniors, young adults, working families, and those with pre-existing conditions from disabling or discriminatory expenses. During this public health emergency, its protections are more valuable than ever."

"The Affordable Care Act helped provide security for numerous individuals and families over the past decade, giving them access to health coverage when they needed it most, as during the current crisis," Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais said.

"Throughout the last ten years, we have seen incredible collaboration across the state and private sector to support Connecticut residents," James Michel, CEO of Access Health CT, said. "We look forward to many more milestones as we continue to do our part to ensure Connecticut residents have access to quality health insurance."

Residents seeking coverage through Medicaid, CHIP, or the individual market should visit www.accesshealthct.com. The special enrollment period that was opened due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding the spread of COVID-19 will end on Thursday, April 2, 2020.