Access Health CT has record enrollment for 2025; warns of higher costs next year without federal action
James Michel, Chief Executive Officer, Access Health CT
The state’s health insurance exchange on Tuesday reported record enrollment in health and dental insurance plans for 2025, but warned that state residents could see health coverage costs soar next year if Congress does not extend enhanced federal subsidies.
Access Health CT (AHCT) said a total of 151,151 Connecticut residents enrolled in a qualified health plan during the open enrollment period, which ran from Nov. 1, 2024, to Jan. 15, 2025. That is a 17% increase over the 129,000 residents who enrolled in 2024.
The 2025 enrollment figure includes 41,165 residents enrolled in the no-cost Covered CT Program, compared to 27,393 last year, a 50.3% increase. In addition, AHCT enrolled more residents in dental coverage, for a total of 17,756.
Access Health CT Chief Executive Officer James Michel said more state residents than ever are getting health coverage through AHCT, in part because it “is the only place Connecticut residents can get financial help to pay for their health insurance.”
That financial help, however, is at risk. The enhanced subsidies created as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and extended by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have expanded access to and affordability of health insurance for millions of Americans, but are set to expire at the end of the year.
If the subsidies do expire, nearly 4 million Americans will lose their insurance by 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Without the subsidies, Connecticut residents could expect to pay $1,700 more on average per year for health insurance, with some residents seeing a nearly $3,000 increase annually, AHCT said.
Since the enhanced subsidies were introduced, the number of Connecticut residents receiving financial assistance has risen nearly 30%, AHCT said. Approximately 90% of AHCT customers now receive financial help, it said.
“We hope the Connecticut (federal) delegation will continue to advocate for the extension of these subsidies and encourage their colleagues from across the country to join them in support of all Americans,” Michel said.
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