The federal healthcare reform law, the Affordable Care Act, was signed into law on March 23, 2010. Many provisions of the law have already gone into effect for individual and group health insurance plans as these plans have renewed. Many other significant changes will be phased in over the next few years. One important upcoming milestone will be the introduction of Exchanges effective January 1, 2014 through which individuals and small employers will be able to buy health insurance coverage.
The Connecticut Insurance Department closely monitors the reform law’s developments and provides the following information to help Connecticut consumers understand the law and its effects on them and their health insurance plans.
Check this page often for the latest updated developments. Below are links to current information.
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2012 Affordable Care Act Updates
OCTOBER – Insurance Department Presentation on Rate Reforms
Department updates Legislature’s Insurance & Real Estate Committee on 2014 rating reforms
SEPTEMBER - Summary of Benefits and Coverage
Insurers providing easy-to-understand summary about a plan’s benefits and coverage.
AUGUST - Women's Health:
Preventive health services for women with no-cost sharing takes effect August
JUNE - Health Insurance Rebates:
The U.S. Health & Human Services has announced that more than 137,000 Connecticut consumers will receive an average of $168 – nearly $13 million total – as a result of the federal health care reform law. For details:
Access Health CT, formerly the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange, was established as a quasi-public agency to satisfy requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act. The power of the Exchange is vested in a board of 14 total and 11 voting members.
Essential Health Benefits (EHB)
Federal Health Care Reform Website
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has set up a website for consumers that provides information on all aspects of the Affordable Care Act, written in an easy to understand manner.
Brochures, Fact Sheets/FAQs on Health Care Reform
Dependent Coverage for Young Adults under Age 26 - Federal and State law
Consumer Alerts
Additional Resources
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
- Government Accountability Office Report
- Connecticut Office of Legislative Research (OLR)
- Kaiser Family Foundation
The Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit private operation foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, dedicated to producing and communicating the best possible information, research, and analysis on health issues.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Guidance from the IRS on Health Care Reform is listed below. Please contact the IRS directly or your tax advisor if you have specific questions on tax related matters.