Democrats renew Connecticut health insurance legislation with call for expanded access to state plan

[TexasTowelie]

Democrats renew Connecticut health insurance legislation with call for expanded access to state plans for small business and nonprofits


A government health insurance plan is back before the General Assembly after industry opposition killed signature legislation in 2019. Backers on Thursday said revisions to the original measure and a bigger coalition will pull this year’s effort across the finish line.

Democratic leaders of the legislature and state Comptroller Kevin Lembo, backed by dozens of advocates including doctors, organized labor and the owner of a small business, announced the so-called Connecticut Option. It will allow small businesses with 50 or fewer employees, nonprofits and union health plans to buy into the insurance plan used by legislators and state employees.

Lembo said his office also would use the state’s purchasing power to negotiate for an insurance plan for individuals.

The broad group of beneficiaries “all coming together and giving them an opportunity to buy into this plan is a significant change from our last bill and makes it stronger and builds our coalition bigger than ever before,” he said at a Capitol news conference.

Read more: https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-health-insurance-legislation-20200305-up3rogdxgfe3ze55x2zj2svp5q-story.html