One of the joys of being a pediatrician is that we can become trusted doctors for our patients and their families over the course of their lives. Until recently, I worried we could not provide this regular care for a particular subset of patients.
Early in 2022, I saw an energetic six-year-old who recently arrived in our state with her parents from Central America. She and her parents had beaming smiles, which became even brighter when they described how eager they were for her to start school. We caught her up on vaccines and got her ready to start school. We also ordered routine labs, with a plan to see her in a few months to check her growth, development, and progress in school enrollment.
Months later, I reviewed her chart and saw that the labs were never drawn and that the family had not yet returned. Why? Our young and energetic patient, who certainly has a right to education, was not guaranteed health care. Like thousands of undocumented children in our state, she was ineligible for HUSKY (Medicaid) health insurance. As a result, the family had to decide when they could return to the doctor’s office and pay for health care costs. Her parents, just like many undocumented families in the state, paid state taxes. However, they had to ration their care and were avoiding preventive visits that are crucial to health.
This month, for the first time, I was able to call the family with some great news and guide them to enroll in HUSKY (Medicaid).
The good news? As of January 1, 2023, Connecticut has joined eight states and Washington, DC, that have expanded health insurance eligibility regardless of documentation status. We know that children who live in states with expanded Medicaid eligibility are more likely to have the preventive medical and dental visits that can allow them to thrive. As a result, preventable problems—from asthma attacks to delays in development—can be addressed before they result in avoidable consequences. Coverage has also expanded for prenatal and postnatal care for all birthing persons regardless of documentation status.
This is a critical expansion and short-term investment that will result in long-term benefits for all children in our state. It was made possible through tireless advocacy from so many of our community members, including the group Husky 4 Immigrants. This year, Connecticut legislators have the opportunity to expand eligibility not only for all children but also their families in our state. What can we do to support this initiative?
- Support enrollment by spreading the word! For families looking to enroll, they can call Access Health CT at 855-805-4325. As of now, any child twelve and under can be eligible, and once enrolled they will maintain eligibility through the age of 18. More information available in English and Spanish (you can find downloads of these on the right side of this page)
- Support expansion to all Connecticut residents:
- Sign this petition from HUSKY 4 Immigrants to show your support
- Call or write your legislator and encourage them to support HUSKY expansion to all residents of Connecticut regardless of documentation status. Find your Connecticut legislator here.