Currently, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate (OHA) is scheduling a series of six consumer forums across the state, with a possibility of more in the future. Our hope is that you will come and share your experiences and ideas about your involvement with health care in Connecticut. We are particularly interested in your stories about the challenges of affording healthcare and health insurance, as well as any ideas you may have on how to reduce these costs in the future. We need your stories to help us develop meaningful recommendations for policy that will improve consumer access to and the affordability of health care in our state.
The fact that American families pay twice as much, or more, as most other developed nations in Europe and Asia for health care that is no better than what people in these nations get is no longer acceptable.
This high-cost system is not sustainable. Warren Buffett, perhaps the most successful investor alive, has said that "medical costs are the tapeworm of American economic competitiveness."
OHA and our community partners hope to bring the voice of you, the healthcare consumer of Connecticut, into the debate about how to improve America's health care system, and to make it responsive, affordable and sustainable for everyone.
If you cannot attend any of these events, please consider sharing your perspective and experiences with us by completing one or more of our surveys. The more stories and examples we get from consumers, the better able we will be to provide policy makers with the information they need to make informed decisions about the future of health care.
Our forums are listed below. Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required, and links for each forum are included.
Thursday, September 28, 2017
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
The Lodge at Geer Village Senior Community
77 South Canaan Road
Canaan, CT 06108
(Local Co-Sponsor: Health Pathfinder, West Cornwall, CT)
Monday, October 16, 2017
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Temple Shalom
259 Richards Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06850
(Local Co-Sponsor: Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut -- CONECT)
Thursday, October 19, 2017
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
United Community & Family Services
47 Town Street
Norwich, CT 06360
(Local Co-Sponsor: Community Health Center Association of CT & UCFS Healthcare)
Thursday, October 26, 2017
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Community Baptist Church
143 Shelton Avenue
New Haven, CT 06511
(Local Co-Sponsor: CONECT & Christian Community Action)
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Generations Family Health Center
40 Mansfield Avenue
Willimantic, CT 06226
(Local Co-Sponsor: Community Health Center Association of CT & Generations)
