Financial Help

Many people qualify for financial help to lower how much they have to pay for health insurance. There is help for your monthly premium bill and for your costs when you visit the doctor or get medical services (copayments, coinsurance and deductibles). This benefit is only available through Access Health CT. Some people may even qualify for low-cost or free coverage.

Financial help is typically determined by:

• Your household size (you, your spouse, and your dependents)
• Your household income and where it falls on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) scale (the amount the federal government determines you need to afford basic expenses each year)
• Your home address

By providing this basic information on your application, we can easily see if you qualify for financial help.

Premium Tax Credit (PTC)

The most common type of financial help is a tax credit from the federal government. You can choose to take your Premium Tax Credit (PTC) in advance, otherwise known as an APTC, or claim it on your federal income tax return. If you take it in advance, it will be paid directly to your insurance company each month. This lowers what you have to pay for your monthly premium bill.

To qualify for a PTC, you:

• Cannot be eligible for other affordable healthcare coverage through your employer or a government program. This includes Medicaid, TRICARE, Medicare or Veterans Affairs benefits.
• Must be a Connecticut resident and a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S. (Starting in 2027, only certain lawfully present individuals qualify)
• Cannot be incarcerated (other than pending final disposition of charges)
• Must enroll in a standard health plan (Bronze, Silver or Gold) through Access Health CT.
• Must file a joint federal tax income return if you are married (unless you are a victim of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment).
• Cannot be claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s federal income tax return.
• Must file a federal income tax return for the year you receive a PTC. You must also file IRS Form 8962 to make sure you got the correct amount of APTC during the year based on your household income.

IMPORTANT: If you receive an APTC, you must update Access Health CT if your household income or information changes during the year. If you don’t, you may end up having to pay back some or all of the APTC you received.

Cost Sharing Reductions (CSRs)

Another type of financial help is a Cost Sharing Reduction. They lower the amount you pay for out-of-pocket expenses. This includes your deductible (what you pay before insurance starts to cover services) and copayments or coinsurance (what you pay when you receive care). If you qualify for CSRs, you must enroll in a Silver Plan to get these lower costs.

Temporary Premium Assistance

Temporary Premium Assistance (TPA) provides Connecticut residents with additional financial help to lower their monthly health insurance costs. The amount of help is based on your household income and the number of people in your household.

If your household income is between 100% and 200% of the FPL ($15,650 – $31,300 for an individual and $32,150 – $64,300 for a family of four), the State will replace the difference between the standard tax credits and enhanced tax credits that expired at the end of 2025. You cannot be enrolled in the Covered CT Program and receive TPA.

The state will provide half of the expired tax credits if your household income is between 400% and 500% of the FPL ($62,600.01 – $78,250 for an individual and $128,600.01 – $160,750 for a family of four).

Early Childhood Educators Health Insurance Subsidy

Starting for 2027, eligible Early Childhood Educators can get financial help from the State of Connecticut to lower the cost of their health insurance through Access Health CT. The subsidy is based on household income and ranges from $1,000 to $1,200 per year. Educators who are eligible for HUSKY Health (Medicaid) or the Covered CT Program cannot use this state subsidy.

Educators can use the state subsidy to help lower the cost of an individual health insurance plan through Access Health CT. If their employer offers a small group health plan or an Individual Health Coverage Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) through Access Health CT BusinessPlus, workers will be able to apply the subsidy toward their costs.

Early Childhood Educators must sign up on the Office of Early Childhood Professional Registry  in order to qualify for this financial help.

Covered CT Program

The Covered CT Program offers free health and dental insurance through Access Health CT to those who are eligible. The State of Connecticut will pay your portion of your monthly premium bill and your deductible, copays and coinsurance.

To qualify for the Covered CT Program, you:

• Must have a household income up to and including 175% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
• Be ineligible for HUSKY Health (Medicaid) due to your household income
• Be eligible for an APTC and Cost Sharing Reductions and accept all of the federal financial help available to you
• Enroll in a Silver Plan thorough Access Health CT.

The Covered CT program also provides some non-emergency medical transportation benefits. You can enroll any time if you are eligible. You do not need to wait for Open Enrollment.

Learn More about the Covered CT Program and see if you qualify (opens in a new window).

HUSKY Health

HUSKY Health is Connecticut’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It offers low-cost or free healthcare coverage if your household meets the income requirements. In addition to income, one or more of the following must be true:

• You are currently pregnant
• You are an adult with no dependent children
• You are a parent or caregiver of a Medicaid-eligible child
• You are a Medicaid-eligible child (under 19 years old).

You can enroll any time if you are eligible. You do not need to wait for Open Enrollment.

Visit the HUSKY Health Connecticut website to learn more about these programs. (Opens in a new window).

First Steps for Financial Help