Senator Gaston Releases Statement Following Announcement of New M&T Bank in Bridgeport
Today, Senator Gaston is releasing the following statement after M&T Bank announces plans to open a new branch in Bridgeport’s East End.
“This new branch opening up on the east end will be a huge boost in our community allowing our most vulnerable residents to finally have the convenience of accessing their funds when they need,” said Sen. Gaston. “The bank will also provide a great opportunity for careers among many Bridgeport residents in need of a job. This has been a huge push and pull with M&T Bank and I am elated for this moment for our great city of Bridgeport. I look forward to the upcoming success of future employees who will be granted a job in 2024 with M&T Bank, and I hope this location brings easier access for community members to be able to walk right up to the ATM and access what they need.”
STATEMENT OF SEN. KUSHNER ON NEW STATE LAW EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 MAKING IT EASIER FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO DEVELOP CANCER TO RECEIVE WORKERS’ COMP BENEFITS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
STATEMENT OF SEN. KUSHNER ON NEW STATE LAW EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 MAKING IT EASIER FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO DEVELOP CANCER TO RECEIVE WORKERS’ COMP BENEFITS
“Firefighters who contract certain cancers will now have the presumption that it’s a work-related illness, and they will qualify for coverage for themselves and surviving members of their families. After many years, we’re finally taking responsibility as a community and as a state. We expect firefighters to protect our homes and our families, yet we’ve never been willing to protect them and care for them when they got sick. That’s why I’m really proud of the work that the legislature did to finally address this issue, to step-up and make sure that we’re taking responsibility to provide for the men and women who risk their lives every day to take care of us,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.
To qualify for the compensation and benefits, a firefighter must have been diagnosed with any condition of cancer affecting the brain or the skeletal, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, lymphatic, reproductive, urinary, or hematological systems. They must have had a physical examination after entering the service that failed to reveal any evidence of or a propensity for the cancer, and they must not have used cigarettes during the 15 years before the diagnosis. Additionally, they must have been on the job for at least five years and submitted to annual medical health screenings as recommended by their medical provider.
The legislation enacting this law was approved in the Senate by a vote of 35 to 1 and in the House of Representatives by a vote of 139 to 12.
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STATEMENT OF SEN. KUSHNER ON NEW STATE LAW EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 MAKING IT EASIER FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO DEVELOP CANCER TO RECEIVE WORKERS’ COMP BENEFITS
STATEMENT OF SEN. KUSHNER ON NEW STATE LAW EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1 MAKING IT EASIER FOR FIREFIGHTERS WHO DEVELOP CANCER TO RECEIVE WORKERS’ COMP BENEFITS
“Firefighters who contract certain cancers will now have the presumption that it’s a work-related illness, and they will qualify for coverage for themselves and surviving members of their families. After many years, we’re finally taking responsibility as a community and as a state. We expect firefighters to protect our homes and our families, yet we’ve never been willing to protect them and care for them when they got sick. That’s why I’m really proud of the work that the legislature did to finally address this issue, to step-up and make sure that we’re taking responsibility to provide for the men and women who risk their lives every day to take care of us,” said state Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury), who is Senate Chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.
To qualify for the compensation and benefits, a firefighter must have been diagnosed with any condition of cancer affecting the brain or the skeletal, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, lymphatic, reproductive, urinary, or hematological systems. They must have had a physical examination after entering the service that failed to reveal any evidence of or a propensity for the cancer, and they must not have used cigarettes during the 15 years before the diagnosis. Additionally, they must have been on the job for at least five years and submitted to annual medical health screenings as recommended by their medical provider.
The legislation enacting this law was approved in the Senate by a vote of 35 to 1 and in the House of Representatives by a vote of 139 to 12.
SENS. LOONEY & CABRERA URGE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE INSURANCE RATE-HEARING PROCESS
SEN. CABRERA JOINS IN OPPOSITION TO ‘UNCONSCIONABLE’ PROPOSED INSURANCE RATE HIKES
HARTFORD – Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), who is Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, have written state Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew Mais and urged him to significantly change the process by which insurance company rate hikes are reviewed – a necessity, they say, made painfully clear by insurance company obfuscation during last week’s rate request public hearing.
Sens. Looney and Cabrera will propose a statutory change to require that such hearings be held under strict Uniform Administrative Procedures Act rules – as Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) hearings on proposed rates mandate – and that the Insurance Department take affordability into consideration, and that there be a ‘presumption of denial’ for any proposed health insurance rate increase that exceeds inflation.
‘The current method of negotiation reflects a betrayal of policy holders. The public would be well served by a requirement that these rate hearings be compliant with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA) thus allowing cross examination of the parties (the hearing should include providers as well as insurers),” Sens. Looney and Cabrera wrote Commissioner Mais. “Connecticut statutes must be amended to require that the insurance commissioner take affordability into consideration in rate approval. In addition, there should be a presumption of denial for any rate increase that is higher than current inflation.”
The senators’ suggestions come less than one week after a public hearing on 10 filings by nine different Connecticut health insurers for health insurance plans that currently cover approximately 188,000 people. The proposed average individual policy rate request increase is 12.4 percent, while the proposed average small group policy rate request increase is 14.8 percent.
After the hearing, the insurers were criticized for offering partial or non-answers to questions posed by legislators, consumer advocates, and others.
“It concerns me how insurance companies are arriving at their proposed rate increases. I’m not getting a lot of details from them. We need to be able to do a deeper dive,” Sen. Cabrera said today.
“If we followed UAPA, we’d get much more detailed answers and fewer vague responses from insurance companies,” Sen. Looney said today.
The Insurance Department expects to make final rulings on the insurance company rate proposals in early September.
SENS. LOONEY & CABRERA URGE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE INSURANCE RATE-HEARING PROCESS
SENS. LOONEY & CABRERA URGE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGE INSURANCE RATE-HEARING PROCESS
HARTFORD – Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden), who is Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, have written state Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew Mais and urged him to significantly change the process by which insurance company rate hikes are reviewed – a necessity, they say, made painfully clear by insurance company obfuscation during last week’s rate request public hearing.
Sens. Looney and Cabrera will propose a statutory change to require that such hearings be held under strict Uniform Administrative Procedures Act rules – as Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) hearings on proposed rates mandate – and that the Insurance Department take affordability into consideration, and that there be a ‘presumption of denial’ for any proposed health insurance rate increase that exceeds inflation.
‘The current method of negotiation reflects a betrayal of policy holders. The public would be well served by a requirement that these rate hearings be compliant with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act (UAPA) thus allowing cross examination of the parties (the hearing should include providers as well as insurers),” Sens. Looney and Cabrera wrote Commissioner Mais. “Connecticut statutes must be amended to require that the insurance commissioner take affordability into consideration in rate approval. In addition, there should be a presumption of denial for any rate increase that is higher than current inflation.”
The senators’ suggestions come less than one week after a public hearing on 10 filings by nine different Connecticut health insurers for health insurance plans that currently cover approximately 188,000 people. The proposed average individual policy rate request increase is 12.4 percent, while the proposed average small group policy rate request increase is 14.8 percent.
After the hearing, the insurers were criticized for offering partial or non-answers to questions posed by legislators, consumer advocates, and others.
“It concerns me how insurance companies are arriving at their proposed rate increases. I’m not getting a lot of details from them. We need to be able to do a deeper dive,” Sen. Cabrera said today.
“If we followed UAPA, we’d get much more detailed answers and fewer vague responses from insurance companies,” Sen. Looney said today.
The Insurance Department expects to make final rulings on the insurance company rate proposals in early September.
STATE SEN. MATT LESSER RELEASES STATEMENT ON THE RETIREMENT OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE TED DOOLITTLE
STATE SEN. MATT LESSER RELEASES STATEMENT ON THE RETIREMENT OF HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE TED DOOLITTLE
HARTFORD, CT – Today, State Senator Matt Lesser releases the following statement on news that Ted Doolittle, leader of the Connecticut Office of the Healthcare Advocate, will resign beginning September 1.
“I’m grateful for Ted’s steadfast and principled services as Healthcare Advocate. He has been a fantastic resource for families across Connecticut and a trusted voice on health care policy.” said State Sen. Matt Lesser.
Office of the Healthcare Advocate General Counsel Sean King will serve as the acting Healthcare Advocate.
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN RELEASES STATEMENT APPLAUDING PURA FOR STANDING UP FOR RATEPAYERS
SENATOR NEEDLEMAN RELEASES STATEMENT APPLAUDING PURA FOR STANDING UP FOR RATEPAYERS
Today, State Senator Norm Needleman (D-Essex), Senate Chair of the Energy and Technology Committee, released the following statement in response to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approving a reduced rate increase request from United Illuminating:
“Today, PURA took action to protect Connecticut’s ratepayers and prevent them from further escalating costs at a time when they are already facing financial challenges,” said Sen. Needleman. “Despite unprecedented pressure from utility company leaders and lobbyists, PURA took a look at the hard facts involved in UI’s rate case request. Their actions today follow the spirit of increased regulations focused on performance sought in recent years including the Take Back Our Grid Act and this past year’s Senate Bill 7. I’m relieved Connecticut ratepayers will not face a sharper spike in energy costs in coming years.”
Senator Hochadel Submits Testimony In Strong Opposition To Proposed Insurance Rate Hikes
Senator Hochadel Submits Testimony In Strong Opposition To Proposed Insurance Rate Hikes
HARTFORD – State Senator Jan Hochadel (D-Meriden) joined a dozen members of the public today in expressing her opposition to the proposed 2024 insurance rate increases submitted by nine different Connecticut health insurers.
In her testimony for today’s state Insurance Department public hearing on the proposed rate hikes, Sen. Hochadel talked about the impact rising insurance hikes will have on residents throughout Connecticut.
“When insurance rates rise, working people in effect take a pay cut,” said Sen. Hochadel. “The effect is felt most dramatically on our lower-wage workers. Too many times over the past few years, I have seen any increase in wages paraeducators, home health aides, supermarket employees, and countless others have any pay increase they receive swallowed up by increases in health insurance costs. These workers, who only three years we were calling “heroes” for continuing to go to work during COVID, see their standard of living suffer as rising insurance costs and inflation tear away at their economic security.”
The 10 filings by nine different Connecticut health insurers are for health insurance plans that currently cover approximately 188,000 people. The proposed average individual rate request increase is 12.4 percent, and ranges from 9.8 percent to 17.5 percent. The proposed average small group rate request increase is 14.8 percent, and ranges from 7.5 percent to 23 percent.
The Insurance Department will conduct actuarial reviews on each filing to determine if they are justified and will either approve, reject, or modify the request. The department expects to make final rulings on the proposals in early September.
Senator Maher Submits Testimony In Strong Opposition To Proposed Insurance Rate Hikes
COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN CHAIRS ISSUE STATEMENT FOLLOWING REPORT ON SUMMER CAMP DISCIPLINE CASES
Senator Maher Submits Testimony In Strong Opposition To Proposed Insurance Rate Hikes
HARTFORD – State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) joined a dozen members of the public today in expressing her opposition to the proposed 2024 insurance rate increases submitted by nine different Connecticut health insurers.
In her testimony for today’s state Insurance Department public hearing on the proposed rate hikes, Sen. Maher explained how health insurance costs are already a burden on families across Connecticut and these rate increases only put more lives at jeopardy.
“We see insurance profits soar each quarter, yet rates rise year after year,” said Sen. Maher. “We can’t continue to place these excessive costs on residents and jeopardize the access they currently have to the good, quality healthcare that we offer in this state.”
Sen. Maher believes more should be done to protect residents and not make people choose between life-saving care and paying for essentials.
“We hear time and time again about how families must choose between lifesaving medicine and putting food on the table or new shoes on a child,” said Sen. Maher. “These double-digit rate increases will only make good, quality healthcare less accessible when we should be doing the opposite and broadening care for families and children.”
The 10 filings by nine different Connecticut health insurers are for health insurance plans that currently cover approximately 188,000 people. The proposed average individual rate request increase is 12.4 percent, and ranges from 9.8 percent to 17.5 percent. The proposed average small group rate request increase is 14.8 percent, and ranges from 7.5 percent to 23 percent.
The Insurance Department will conduct actuarial reviews on each filing to determine if they are justified and will either approve, reject, or modify the request. The department expects to make final rulings on the proposals in early September.
COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN CHAIRS ISSUE STATEMENT FOLLOWING REPORT ON SUMMER CAMP DISCIPLINE CASES
COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN CHAIRS ISSUE STATEMENT FOLLOWING REPORT ON SUMMER CAMP DISCIPLINE CASES
Today, Committee on Children Co-Chairs State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) and State Representative Liz Linehan (D-Cheshire/Southington/Wallingford) issued the following statement following Connecticut Insider’s publishing of a report that indicated the Office of Early Childhood reviewed 74 complaints about potential regulatory violations over a period of two years but issued formal discipline in one instance during that time:
“As Co-Chairs of the Committee on Children, we have consistently expressed concern in all aspects of children’s safety. We understand the positive impact of peer-to-peer relationships and mentoring relationships between older teens and tweens. Since 2018, the Committee has passed numerous laws in this regard, including requiring background checks for camp staff, the distribution of materials aimed to raise awareness and empower kids and parents to fight against sexual harassment, grooming, abuse, bullying and more. This past session, we questioned the licensing process for all camps in Connecticut, and pushed for more standardized regulations across public and private camps. We are working to bring rigorous safety standards so that all children, parents and camps are working in concert for the health and safety of children. This upcoming session will see this work come to fruition and make sure Connecticut camps are helping kids grow as people and make the lifelong memories they deserve without issue.”