HEALTH INSURANCE

As a resident of the state of Connecticut, you are protected by certain rights under the law when it comes to health insurance. These rights help patients maintain their health insurance when they move jobs, residences, or simply decide that they want to switch their health insurance to another company. This is even applicable to those who have a pre-existing health condition, even those that are considered serious. A federal law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (or HIPAA) has helped to set a national standard for health plans across the country. For those residing in the state of Connecticut, these laws have expanded even further. It is important to remember, however, that this protection only applies to residents of the state of Connecticut. If you move out of the state, these laws no longer apply to you. Nondiscrimination is an important part of the laws regarding Connecticut health insurance. This term means that your coverage cannot be denied or increased because of your health status, no matter how sick you are. If you happen to leave your job, you should be able to continue to keep your current health plan, at least for a limited time. This is called COBRA, and is often offered by employers all over the country. For those are unemployed or whose employers do not offer insurance, Connecticut has the HRA, or Health Reinsurance Association. The HRA offers insurance for people at a reduced cost, and they can buy coverage for themselves or for their entire family.

If you happen to be a low income family, or you have children who you cannot find reasonable health insurance for, you can apply for Connecticut Medicaid. This plan offers coverage for pregnant women, elderly and/or disabled people with low incomes, families with children, or those who are considered medically needy. Medicaid offers health insurance provided by the state at free or very low cost. Since both cervical and breast cancer are somewhat common among women, it's good to be able to be screened for these diseases for early detection. Connecticut offers The Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which helps provide women with free or low cost detection and screening. There are many other wonderful benefits for health insurance in the state of Connecticut. If you live in the state or are thinking of moving there, it's a good idea to do some research and find out which laws could be applicable to you and your family. It's good to know that there are plans put in place for people who need health insurance, and that Connecticut is among the states that have a flexible statewide plan, and many options to choose from. Your family's health is very important, so be sure you know your rights under the law. For more information on any Connecticut health insurance laws or plans, you can contact several different agencies. The state of Connecticut department of health and social service, the Federal Medicaid and Medicare departments, and the Connecticut State Department of Public Health are good places to start.