Timeline

In 2019, CT Students for a Dream identified 5 main pillars of what our communities need to #LiveUnafraid: Immigrant Rights, Healthcare Access, Education Equity, Racial Justice, and Gender Justice. To #LiveUnafraid our immigrant communities need access to safe, accessible, and affordable healthcare, health insurance, and health coverage. We demand safe and accessible access to reproductive healthcare, and to culturally competent and affirming mental health care. C4D supported…

• SB 1053 - An Act Expanding Medicaid and HUSKY B Coverage for Children

• HB 7267 - Public Option for Healthcare

• HB 6093 - An Act Concerning Consideration of Immigrant Status by Health Carries

Despite our many efforts to pass legislative bills, none of the bills received necessary traction to be passed in the committee and were not able to be moved forward for a vote.

Leading up to the 2020 legislation session we decided that opening HUSKY Medicaid access would help the most marginalized members of our community. We were not able to see the introduction of a comprehensive bill the 1st year. However, we did support a bill that would create a taskforce to study the issue: H.B.5251: "An Act Establishing A Taskforce to Study Health Insurance Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants in This State".

The start of COVID shutdown the legislature. The coalition shifted its advocacy to calling on the Lamont administration to expand eligibility to HUSKY to all regardless of immigration status. As a result of community advocacy, the Lamont Administrative expanded “emergency Medicaid” to undocumented communities for COVID testing and treatment.

In September of 2020, the HUSKY 4 Immigrants Coalition organized a rally in front of Gov. Lamont’s house to call him to expand access to HUSKY.

In February of 2021 the coalition launched the campaign virtually, where there were over 100 attendants that joined to listen to community members stories and legislators support for the expansion of the HUSKY program for the undocumented community.

This was the first year that an inclusive HUSKY for Immigrants bil (SB 956: An Act Providing Medical Assistance to Certain Individuals Regardless of Immigration Status)l was introduced and passed out of committee. The bill had significant momentum, with a 12 hour public hearing and over 250 individuals submitting testimony in support.

At the end of session, the coalition organized a 10 day-action rally in front of the capitol calling legislators and Governor Lamont to take Action. On Tuesday June 8th, bothe the Senate and House passed HB 6687 An Act Concerning Medical Assistance For Children And Adults Without Health Care Coverage now Public Act 21-176. Which would provide access to HUSKY medicaid to undocumented immigrant children ages 0–8 years old and pre and postnatal care for undocumented immigrant pregnant women. These programs will be available to our community in 2023.

The Coalition continued to fight to expand access to HUSKY for all immigrants regardless of status, by building on our past victories.

We supported SB 284: AN ACT INCREASING THE AGE FROM 8 TO 18 YEARS FOR AN INCOME-ELIGIBLE PERSON TO OBTAIN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS. The public hearing was held on March 10, it lasted over 12 hours with more than 360 testimonies. However, legislators failed to vote it out of committee.

We did not give up. We held a week of action. Our voices were heard and the Appropriations Committee voted on a State Budget that included funds for Husky for Undocumented kids up to the age of 12.

Our coalition will not stop fighting until ALL undocumented immigrants have access to healthcare coverage.

• On January 11th we launched the HUSKY for Immigrants Campaign, we had over a hundred community members in attendance.

• We introduced bill HB 6616 that would expand HUSKY up to age 26. Our Public Hearing took place on Feb. 14th. We had over 700 testimonies submitted and an over 12 hour long hearing.

• Next Step is to get the bill out of committee, we are asking folks to visit this LINK to send a letter to legislators of the HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE to vote it out.

ALSO, this year starts the implantation of Health Care for children 0-12 years old and Prenatal Care for Pregnant People ( you can find more information on this under our resources tab)