How will Medicaid cuts hurt HUSKY?
People will lose services unless Connecticut lawmakers step in
HUSKY is health insurance for working class adults, seniors, people with disabilities, babies, and children, so they have the freedom to afford the care they need. HUSKY allows people to see a doctor when they’re sick, get healthcare throughout pregnancy and for new babies, get regular check-ups, afford medication, and go to the hospital. Times are tough for a lot of people. HUSKY is meant to make sure no one has to choose between paying for healthcare and paying for groceries. It keeps our hospitals open, builds healthier communities, and gives families a chance to get on their feet and build strong futures.
But right now, people are at risk of losing their HUSKY insurance because of unfair federal cuts. Currently, about 900,000 people in our state are on HUSKY. With new federal rules, between 100,000 to 200,000 of our neighbors could lose coverage.
HUSKY helps people stay healthy. Without it, people may be forced to choose between buying food and going to the doctor, or delay critical medical care because they can’t afford it. Our lawmakers can protect people from losing their coverage, but they need to act now.
What is HUSKY?
HUSKY is Connecticut’s name for Medicaid. They are the same program. Medicaid cuts are HUSKY cuts.
Who can be on HUSKY, what care it pays for, and the income requirements are different based on what type of HUSKY someone is on. Each type of HUSKY covers doctor visits, maternity care, hospital stays, preventative care, medications, hospice services, some testing, and more – as long as you go to a provider that accepts it. The different types of HUSKY can cover additional services, like transportation to doctor’s appointments.
There are four versions of HUSKY:
HUSKY A: Children, their parents, and their caregivers may be eligible. You must have a child under the age of 19 or be pregnant to qualify.
HUSKY B: HUSKY B is also known as CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program). Children under the age of 19 can qualify depending on a household’s income.
HUSKY C: Residents who are 65 years old or older and/or are blind or have a disability. Income and asset limits are different for the different parts of HUSKY C and depend on whether you are single or married. You may also be eligible for Medicaid for Employees with Disabilities (MED-Connect). More information is available from the state.
HUSKY D: Residents between the ages of 19 to 64 who don’t have dependent children and are not pregnant.
HUSKY Limited Benefit: If you do not qualify for other programs, you may be eligible for HUSKY Limited Benefit. There are health insurance programs based on whether you are receiving dialysis, have tuberculosis, or need help paying for contraception.
Eligibility for each program is different and is based on income and family size. However, some income may not count, and there are expenses you can deduct. The state recommends applying even if you’re unsure if you qualify.
Note: If you do not qualify for HUSKY, you may still be able to get healthcare coverage under the CoveredCT program. Income limits in 2025 are $26,355 a year for a household of one, $35,770 for a two-person household, and $54,600 for a four-person household. More information is available from the state.
What changes are coming?
The new rules from the federal government are not very clear, and states are grappling with when they will happen and who will be hurt.
Connecticut has been here before, and we know that work requirements don’t work for our state. For example, when dozens of Connecticut towns were mandated by the federal government to enforce similar work requirements in 2016, 25% of people on SNAP lost their coverage. People with chronic health conditions were more likely to lose their benefits than people without a chronic condition, and many people who lost their benefits were already working. Thankfully, a year later, many of the towns were able to drop the unfair requirements.
Most adults on HUSKY are already working. About 66% of people on HUSKY who are under the age of 60 and do not have a disability have a job. People who weren’t working had good reasons – a disability, illness, school, or taking care of children – but may now be at risk of losing their healthcare.
Adults between the ages of 19 and 64 will need to do at least 80 hours per month of work or community engagement to be eligible for HUSKY. The new rules will prevent more people from qualifying for HUSKY or being able to keep their coverage. The state is tracking what exemptions will still exist.
The new requirements also mean that people will need to renew more often, adding paperwork to the process and millions of dollars in administrative costs.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services has more information about the changes online.
When will this happen?
The changes will not happen all on the same day and are not going into effect immediately. However, our state lawmakers must act soon to protect people’s coverage.
The timeline of when the changes will happen is still unclear, but some are scheduled to start in 2026. The state has more information on when different parts could take effect.
Our leaders can protect people from losing coverage
Connecticut has extra money to help, but lawmakers need to act well before cuts go into effect, or else they’ll miss out on being able to use them.
Our state lawmakers have the money and power to protect people from losing their coverage.
Without HUSKY, up to 200,000 people will no longer have healthcare. They will be more likely to not go to the doctor when they are sick, be saddled with debt during a health emergency, and miss screenings that can catch cancer and dangerous illnesses early.
Keeping people covered is good for our entire state. It’s estimated that HUSKY cuts will cost our state’s economy $1.5 billion in 2026, and that there will be 8,200 fewer jobs. Of those job losses, 4,500 are expected to be in the healthcare field. Cutting HUSKY means that healthcare will be harder to find and that wait times may be longer for everyone.
People across every age group – including more than 100,000 children – and in every corner of Connecticut can access lifesaving care because of HUSKY. Our state cannot thrive unless people are healthy. But unless the state steps in, thousands of people, including babies, moms, seniors, people with disabilities, and more may no longer be able to afford to go to the doctor.
Take action now to tell lawmakers to defend access to SNAP and HUSKY.
