How National Health Care Reform May Affect Families in Connecticut’s HUSKY Program

On November 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed their health insurance reform bill. On December 24, the Senate adopted its package. Under normal procedure, the two chambers would convene a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the proposals and produce a final bill that will then be voted on in both the House and Senate. It has been widely reported that a more informal process will be used instead for this legislation, with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Obama working together to negotiate the final bill to be voted on in both chambers. There are significant differences in the packages, and with compromise discussions about to begin, it is a critical time to evaluate how low-income children fare under the two bills. Connecticut currently provides coverage for children, parents, and pregnant women under its HUSKY Program and receives federal matching dollars for the coverage. This brief outlines how the eligibility for and affordability of coverage in the HUSKY Program will be affected under the current proposed provisions of each health reform bill.