More than 168,000 Connecticut residents are projected to lose their health coverage over the next decade as a result of federal Medicaid work requirements and other changes set to take effect in 2027. To minimize coverage losses, the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) is developing a communications strategy to reach those impacted by the upcoming changes. This project is supported by a $125,000 grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation.
Starting January 1, 2027, certain adults will be required to prove that they work, go to school, participate in job training, or volunteer for at least 80 hours a month to stay covered by HUSKY, Connecticut’s Medicaid program. Research shows that two-thirds of non-elderly, non-disabled adults covered by HUSKY already work, but administrative burdens related to proving that they meet the requirements can cause many people to lose coverage even if they still qualify.
The grant funding supports DSS’s work to develop a communications strategy to try to eliminate confusion about these new requirements and help people identify if they will be affected and what they need to do to stay covered. The goal is to prevent the upcoming changes from widening racial and ethnic health disparities by helping people stay covered. DSS will also create a toolkit that can be used by community organizations, health care providers, public libraries, and other trusted messengers to explain the changes.
Other Grants: