Access Health CT Estimates Impact of Reconciliation Bill, Up to 35 Percent of Customers May Lose Coverage by 2034

Despite federal headwinds, financial help and the ability to enroll in a quality health plan remains strong and intact for Connecticut residents and Americans nationwide

HARTFORD, Conn. (July 9, 2025) — Access Health CT (AHCT), Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace, estimates the impact of the Reconciliation Bill – or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” –  and other federal changes to be significant for Connecticut’s residents, with 30 to 35 percent of its more than 150,000 customers potentially losing coverage by 2034. The combined impact of the bill, the expiration of some subsidies that reduce the cost of monthly payments for exchange customers and recently issued federal regulatory changes, are all leading to greatly increased costs and challenges for consumers. Medicaid, administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), will experience far more spending cuts and changes.

“Millions of Americans, including thousands of Connecticut residents, will lose their health insurance because of the combination of this federal legislation and the likely expiration of enhanced subsidies first made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act and extended through plan year 2025 through the Inflation Reduction Act along with other federal policy changes,” said Chief Executive Officer of Access Health CT, James Michel. “These changes can be expected to increase costs for customers here in Connecticut, and nationwide, and create barriers to financial help.”

Immediate impacts for Access Health CT customers who purchase their insurance through the marketplace include:

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) residents will no longer be eligible for coverage starting August 2025.
• Green card holders who are not eligible for Medicaid because they have not been residents for five or more years will no longer be eligible for tax credits that provide much-needed financial assistance starting January 1, 2026.
• Increased administrative burdens for consumers to verify their eligibility for financial help and allowing insurance companies to demand upfront payment of past-due premiums.
• Eliminating the Special Enrollment Period eligibility for low-income consumers.
• Changes to health insurance plans that could result in higher out-of-pocket costs and fewer covered services.
• As well as other impacts for future plan years, including a shortened Open Enrollment Period giving Americans across the country less time to shop, compare and enroll in health coverage.
• Removing financial help for many non-citizens.
• New administrative requirements for consumers to verify eligibility before financial help can be received.
• Elimination of limits on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recapture amounts for premium tax credit amounts.

These new requirements will complicate the enrollment and verification process for customers who purchase health insurance through state-based and federal marketplaces. It also puts additional bureaucratic burdens on customers, making it more difficult to enroll and maintain their health coverage. 

“Despite the federal headwinds,” said Michel, “Access Health CT is here to help. Financial assistance will still be available for eligible Connecticut residents, and we will continue our extensive outreach to those in need of health coverage to help them find a plan that works best for them and their families.”

Access Health CT recommends shopping for a health plan during the upcoming Open Enrollment season starting November 1. Customers who often auto-renew into a similar plan may find a different plan works better for them because of federal changes. Customers who do not currently work with a Certified Broker may also benefit from free assistance to help select a plan. Find free help from the Access Health CT team and find a broker online at AccessHealthCT.com/Get-Help.

To help reduce the burden on Connecticut residents, Access Health CT continues to increase the number of Certified Brokers in the state within underserved communities through its innovative, first-of-its-kind Broker Academy program. The Broker Academy has produced a total of 73 new brokers since its inception in 2021. More students are completing the process of training and certification, and will be ready to serve Connecticut residents during the Open Enrollment Period later this year.