SB 842 Summary

• Comptroller Health Insurance Program: Establishes a fully insured health insurance plan through the State Comptroller for multiemployer plans, nonprofit employers, and small employers (1-50 employees), with premiums equal to state employee plan costs, adjusted for age, geography, family size, and plan differences.

• Health Insurance Exchange Enhancements: Expands the Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange to offer silver-level qualified health plans with zero-cost coverage for individuals below 201% of federal poverty level and value-based insurance design benefits for chronic conditions.

• Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange Account: Creates a dedicated account funded by fees on insurers and health carriers (capped at $50 million annually) to support exchange operations, premium subsidies, and cost-sharing reductions.

• Administrative Fees and Assessments: Imposes health and welfare fees and public health fees on domestic insurers, third-party administrators, and participating employers, collected by the Comptroller and remitted to support various health programs.

• Healthcare Advocate Expansion: Extends Office of Healthcare Advocate services to individuals enrolled in the Comptroller's plan and expands medical assistance eligibility to 201% of federal poverty level for certain parents and caretaker relatives.

• Medicaid Expansion: Raises Medicaid income eligibility threshold from 155% to 201% of federal poverty level for parents and caretaker relatives, pending federal waiver approval.