Connecticut Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Connecticut?

Connecticut fell two spots from its top five ranking among the healthiest states in 2007 to #7 this year, according to a 2008 study by the United Health Foundation. The change came despite higher rankings in nine categories of measurement.

The good news:

• The state has top-10 ratings in more than half of the categories measured, including the #1 ranking for geographic disparity of mortality rates within the state, #2 rating for prevalence of obesity, and #3 ratings for prevalence of smoking and immunization coverage.
• The prevalence of smoking decreased by 2.4 percent in the past year.

The bad news:

• The state's worst rating – 39th – was for the incidence of infectious disease.
• The percentage of uninsured Connecticut residents has climbed from 6.4 percent to 9.4 percent since 1990.

The state's best and worst category ratings:

• Geographic disparity – 1st
• Prevalence of obesity – 2nd
• Prevalence of smoking – 3rd
• Immunization coverage – 3rd
• Poor physical health days – 4th
• Premature death – 5th
• Lack of health insurance – 6th
• Number of primary care physicians – 6th
• Occupational fatalities – 7th
• Poor mental health days – 8th
• Violent crime offenses – 10th
• Infectious disease – 39th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Connecticut.

Does Connecticut have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Connecticut Health Reinsurance Association
Toll-free 1-800-842-0004 (M-F 9am-4pm EST)

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the poolto keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Find more on risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Connecticut

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Connecticut and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Connecticut.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

USNews health insurance rankings for Connecticut

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Connecticut.

Official State Goverment Sites with Connecticut Health Insurance Information

Connecticut Insurance Department -- Official government Web site for department responsible for oversight of insurance companies doing business in Connecticut.

• Make a consumer complaint against health insurance companies in Connecticut.
• The state government publishes this list of Connecticut consumer health insurance links.
• Connecticut has this information on insurance issues for military personnel.

Connecticut HUSKY Plan -- the state Children's Health Insurance Program provides health insurance for children 18 and under whose family meets income guidelines. Parents, relatives, caregivers and pregnant women can also qualify for coverage.

Connecticut CHOICES Program -- provides free counseling for Medicare beneficiaries with questions.

Connecticut Medicaid -- the government program designed to help poor and indigent get health care. Pregnant women and children ages 18 and under who meet income requirements may be eligible for coverage, along with the aged, blind, and disabled. For more information about eligibility, contact your local Department of Social Services office.

Health insurance reform groups in Connecticut

The Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care -- represents citizen, labor, political, business, and health care professional organizations seeking universal health insurance for the state.

The Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut -- an independent, nonprofit charity that sees its work as part of a larger movement for social and economic justice.

Health Care Advocacy Groups in Connecticut

University Health Care Foundation of Connecticut – Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut is a nonpartisan, nonprofit grant-making organization dedicated to achieving quality, affordable health care for everyone in Connecticut.