Medicare For All Connecticut is supporting two legislative efforts this session! Learn more and take action to join us in our support.
Universal health care in Connecticut
The first, H.B. No. 5485 — AN ACT CONCERNING A COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF ESTABLISHING A HUSKY FOR ALL, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FINANCING SYSTEM — would require a study of the costs and benefits of transitioning from the current health care system in the state to a universal, single payer health care system.
With health care costs spiraling out of control, even for the insured, it's top to start looking at real alternatives to our unjust, unsustainable status quo. This bill would take a hard, pragmatic look at a proposal to transition to a universal single-payer system.
The Connecticut General Assembly should pass this bill this session — starting with the members of the joint Committee on Human Services, where the bill currently sits.
Reign in costs by preventing consolidation
Hospital system service prices are the main driver of Connecticut’s rising health insurance premiums.
The consolidation of hospitals and providers into large health systems has stifled competition, allowing prices to rise unchecked. Other states have taken action to protect competition in consolidated markets and it’s working. Connecticut needs to act.
Ask the Connecticut General Assembly to pass legislation promoting competition and limiting the influence of large health systems!
Learn more
Connecticut has among the most consolidated healthcare markets in the US. In consolidated markets like ours, insurers and employers must include a hospital or other provider in their network because there are no other alternatives. Through anti-competitive contract clauses, a health system can link a must-have provider to others in competitive markets. These clauses allow big health systems to name their own price for all their providers, not just the must-have entity.
In turn, insurance premiums have to rise when healthcare prices rise, making coverage unaffordable for employers and individuals. Despite promises from large systems, consolidation hasn’t improved the quality of healthcare.
Other states have passed legislation to prohibit anti-competitive contract clauses, undermining the ability of large health systems to demand high prices. States that have passed these provisions have saved 5% or more on premiums. Last session a bill to prohibit anti-competitive contract clauses passed the Senate but died on the House calendar.
Connecticut policymakers should prohibit anti-competitive contract clauses to lower healthcare costs and insurance premiums!