This story is part of CT Mirror Explains, an ongoing effort to distill our wide-ranging reporting into a "what you need to know" format and provide practical information to our readers.
Connecticut residents can now shop for health coverage through Access Health CT, the state’s health insurance exchange.
The annual period to sign up for plans — known as “open enrollment” — began on Oct. 23 and runs through Dec. 15 for plans beginning Jan. 1. The deadline to sign up for plans beginning Feb. 1 is Jan. 15.
Connecticut makes financial assistance available to certain residents to help offset the cost of plans. Here’s what to know.
CoveredCT and Temporary Premium Assistance
COVID-era federal subsidies that made Affordable Care Act, or ACA, plans cheaper expired at the end of last year. In response, Gov. Ned Lamont announced the state would step in and pay to maintain that financial assistance for certain residents during the 2026 plan year.
Lamont extended that financial assistance for another year.
The state will continue to cover expired federal funding in 2027 for enrollees in CoveredCT, which provides no-cost plans to low-income families that earn slightly too much to qualify for Medicaid.
Everyone who qualified for subsidies, known as “Temporary Premium Assistance,” in 2026 will qualify again in 2027.
Temporary premium assistance replaces all the expired federal support for people with ACA plans whose incomes are between 100% and 200% of the federal poverty level. ACA plan enrollees with incomes over 400% and up to 500% of the federal poverty level will receive financial assistance to replace half the amount of the expired federal subsidies.
In 2026, the federal poverty level was an annual income of $15,960 for an individual and $33,000 for a family of four.
Early childhood educators
The state this year also launched a new program to help early childcare workers afford health insurance. Early childhood educators purchasing 2027 coverage on the exchange can apply for subsidies of anywhere from $1,000 to $1,200 annually.
Earlier this year, Lamont said the subsidies are meant to reflect “Connecticut’s continued commitment to recruiting and retaining qualified educators.”
Early childhood educators and staff employed by licensed childcare centers or operating licensed family childcare homes qualify for the subsidies. This includes: family child care teachers; preschool and infant/toddler teachers; directors; and administrative and support staff at child care programs licensed by the Office of Early Childhood. Public school preschool teachers are not eligible.
An estimated 7,200 to 8,800 early childcare workers qualify for the program.
The early childhood educators, or “ECE,” subsidy is available in addition to any other federal and state financial assistance, like temporary premium assistance. However, residents who qualify for CoveredCT or Medicaid are not eligible for the ECE subsidy.
How do you know if you qualify for subsidies?
CoveredCT and temporary premium assistance will be incorporated into the pricing on the Access Health CT enrollment system for anyone who qualifies.
Early childhood workers must have an account through the Early Childhood Professional Registry before filling out an application and indicate that they work in early childcare on their application.
Residents can also enroll in plans via phone at 1-855-805-4325 as well as in-person by appointment with an Access Health CT enrollment specialist or at an enrollment event. Enrollment events are taking place across the state throughout the open enrollment period.
