Connecticut lawmakers aim for post-ACA protections

Feb. 22--EAST HAVEN -- Nearly one month ago, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order aimed at fulfilling one of his campaign promises: Dismantling and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

Now, state legislators are tasked with identifying ways to ensure that if Obamacare is repealed, Connecticut residents -- who would otherwise be uninsured -- will be able to maintain coverage.

"(The Affordable Care Act) was a giant piece of legislation enacted in 2010, with the bulk of it being in place by 2014. But, it had provisions that were going to go all the way until 2020. So, we are talking about repealing something that isn't fully yet implemented," said Lou Mangini, constituent services manager for U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3. "States need to start looking at what they can do if 450,000 people in Connecticut lose health insurance."

State Rep. James Albis, D-East Haven, was one of three legislators who introduced a piece of legislation in January that will help offset any effects caused by repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Albis and state Reps. Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown, and Joshua Elliott, D-Hamden, introduced a House Bill that requires the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management to submit a strategic plan to ensure the continuity of affordable and comprehensive health care coverage no later than 60 days following the passage of any federal legislation repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

It is the first state bill that was introduced to offset the effects of a potential repeal, Albis said.

Trump signed the executive order within hours of taking the oath of office. The order seeks the "prompt repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as amended." While the order begins the process of rolling back Obamacare, it also states that pending such repeal, it is imperative that the law be upheld in the meantime.

"We have to have a plan of action that these are the steps you need to take to ensure we retain the same level of coverage or talk about how we are going to change that coverage," Albis said during an Affordable Care Act Healthcare Forum Tuesday.

However, both Albis and Mangini said the policies implemented at the state Capitol are dependent on what happens in Washington, D.C.

"Without a real idea of what might happen, (state) Rep. Albis is right that this (the Affordable Care Act) will be in place. It'll take plenty of time to roll back," Mangini said. "It is difficult to tell what is going to happen because there are so many ways it can happen."

Since Trump announced his executive order one month ago, Albis said there has been a decrease in the number of Connecticut residents who are enrolled in Access Health CT -- the state's official health insurance marketplace that was established to meet the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act, according to its website.

However, Albis said state residents should continue to enroll for coverage.

"My advice to folks would be is act as if this is going to stay in place," Albis said. "This is what we have in place, utilize it. The more people that are utilizing it and utilizing it successfully, the more difficult it will be to repeal it."

It could be months, or even a year, before the Affordable Care Act is repealed, Mangini said.

"Some of the pain and beauty of how the government works, is it will still take time," Mangini said.

Sam Norton can be reached at 203-680-9906.

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