HB 5379 Summary

• Establishes a state individual health care responsibility fee effective January 1, 2019, requiring Connecticut taxpayers and their dependents to maintain minimum essential health insurance coverage or pay a penalty fee to the state.

• Fee amounts are calculated as the lesser of: monthly per-person amounts, the lowest-cost silver-level plan premium through the exchange, 9.66% of household income, or $10,000 annually, with exemptions for gaps under 3 months and those depositing sufficient funds to a health care savings account.

• Creates the Connecticut Health Care Savings Program and Connecticut Health Care Trust Fund administered by the state health insurance exchange, allowing eligible individuals unable to afford qualified health plans to establish individual savings accounts for uncovered health care expenses.

• Fees are collected with state income tax returns and deposited in the General Fund; no criminal liability or state liens apply for non-payment, and federal penalties under the Affordable Care Act reduce state fee liability.

• Designates the health insurance exchange to establish savings account participation agreements, invest trust funds prudently, and grant certifications to individuals exempt from the state requirement or unable to secure affordable coverage.