Yesterday the Governor
released
his counter-proposal for the next biennial budget. The proposal cuts the
remaining working parents above 138% of the federal poverty level, the
eligibility level for all adults, in the HUSKY program. Last year the Governor
and legislature agreed to cut parents to 155%. Due to federal law allowing time
for transition, 17,688 working parents in Connecticut will lose Medicaid July
31
st of this year. Based on prior experience, most of those parents
will not be able to afford coverage in the insurance exchange and will likely
become uninsured. Due to federal reimbursements, the state only receives half
the savings from these cuts -- $900,000 in Fiscal Year 2017 but rising to $21
million by FY 2018 when all the parents are off the program.
Other cuts included in the Governor’s proposal include cuts
to community health centers, hospitals, children’s dental care, and funding to the
Medicaid Administrative Services Organizations. State employees will be asked
to pay 20% of their health benefit costs. In 2014,
Connecticut
workers paid 21% of single coverage premiums on average. Discussions will
continue. The legislative session is scheduled to end May 4
th.
