The 2011 legislature made changes in the Charter Oak Health Plan, including lowering the state premium subsidy as of September 1, 2011. Currently, program enrollees who do not get subsidies pay $307 in monthly premiums. This includes people with incomes above 300% of the federal poverty level and those who enrolled in the program on or after June 1, 2011.
DSS has just informed enrollees that effective September 1, 2011, the monthly premium for those who must pay the full premium will rise to $446. Individuals who receive subsidies will also have to pay more because the subsidy is based on the full premium amount.
DSS attributes the higher premium costs to higher medical costs incurred by program enrollees. However, the blow is softened somewhat by DSS’ decision to eliminate the annual $100,000 limit on benefits and caps on drugs and durable medical equipment. Additionally, the governor has just announced that the state’s Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan’s premiums are now much lower thanks to federal approval of a single, collapsed premium rate of $381 per month. Only people with such conditions may participate in that program. Charter Oak has no such limitation but many wishing to enroll in it have such conditions and may find they are better off in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan.
