Press Release – July 3, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2025

HARTFORD, CT - Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais today warned that newly enacted federal policy changes, including those in the recently passed budget reconciliation bill and the finalized U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Marketplace Integrity Rule, could jeopardize health insurance coverage for thousands of Connecticut residents.

"These changes could have a significant impact not just on those who lose enhanced subsidies, but on everyone who depends on affordable coverage," Commissioner Mais said. "They could increase the number of uninsured individuals in our state, strain already overburdened hospitals and providers, and shift costs onto commercial insurance customers, including those using Access Health CT. That means higher premiums and real risk for many Connecticut residents."

In 2025, more than 150,000 Connecticut residents enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans through Access Health CT. Due to recent federal changes, as many as 35 percent of these consumers could be at risk of losing their coverage by 2034. The scheduled expiration of enhanced premium tax credits at the end of 2025 may affect more than 137,000 individuals across nearly 100,000 households, many of whom rely on this financial assistance to keep their health insurance affordable.

These impacts stem from significant changes to health coverage policy included in both the recently enacted federal reconciliation bill and the HHS Marketplace Integrity Rule finalized last week.

Federal Changes Include:

• Restricting enrollment access, including cutting the open enrollment period, removing assistance for many non-citizens and DACA recipients, and eliminating Special Enrollment Periods for low-income individuals.
• Imposing new administrative hurdles, such as requiring full eligibility verification before assistance, ending automatic renewals, and demanding upfront payment of past-due premiums.
• Reducing plan quality and consumer protections by lowering actuarial value standards and eliminating limits on IRS recapture of premium tax credits, resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs and fewer covered services for consumers.

The Insurance Department encourages consumers to stay informed and to contact Access Health CT or the Department directly with any questions or concerns about their health coverage.

For more information, please visit our website.

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Contact:
Mary Quinn
Communications Director
[email protected]
(959) 529-4904