Joseph Lebinski, Adjutant of VFW Post #9427, Nationally-Acclaimed National Anthem Ambassador Wendy Gerbier, Keynote Speaker Sen. Tony Hwang, and Eunice Dennie Burr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Regent Linda S. Paslov.

Got Health Care Insurance? Brace Yourself…..

By Sen. Tony Hwang and Sen. Kevin Kelly

Those with high blood pressure may want to sit down for this news.

The majority of insurers who sell individual and small group employer plans in Connecticut have asked for double-digit increases for next year’s policies, with average increases as high as 28 percent among plans that cover thousands of workers and their families.

That’s right. 28 percent.

Sound excessive?

Sound unaffordable?

It does to us, too.

The state insurance department, which must approve rate increases, is hosting public hearings in August. You can also comment online now at www.ct.gov/cid.

Raising your voice is important to send a message to state officials. But we know it takes many voices to be heard in Hartford.

In all likelihood, rates will go up. By a lot. Again.

You see, the state’s health insurance rate process is broken.

It lacks predictability, sustainability and transparency.

And it’s really a microcosm of what happens at the State Capitol when a state budget gets crafted and approved by the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

Just like one never knows when and which taxes will be hiked in Connecticut from year to year, just try to predict and plan your future insurance costs in this state.

It’s impossible. There is no rhyme or reason to it.

What if Connecticut changed the specific definitions of what would disqualify insurers from excessive increases? What if we called for mandatory state public hearings when proposed health insurance rate increases exceed 10 percent?

We did. Democrats and Republicans supported it. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy promptly vetoed it.

Ever wonder just how high your rates have jumped, say, in the last decade? For a great many of you reading this, it’s been more than 100 percent. The unsustainable, unstable path we are on is clear evidence that the Affordable Care Act is not living up to its billing and is collapsing under its own bureaucratic weight.

Remember the vaunted promises? Sure you do. “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it” might ring a bell.

Now, guess who pays more and more for those broken promises?

You do, of course.

• Isn’t it time we shine a light on the root cause of our ever-rising insurance premiums?
• Isn’t it time we inject some sorely needed transparency into this rigged game and ensure that health care insurance consumers’ rights

are not violated?

• Isn’t it time we put overburdened consumers first instead of trying to keep them perpetually in the dark?

It’s your money. There can be no secrecy. There must be accountability. Massive premium increases must be explained and justified.

The public hearings take place in Hartford on August 3 and 4. Between now and then – and long after you get your brand new double digit rate hike notices in the mail – we’ll be on the front line of the fight to restore public faith in the premium rate review process.

We’re not going away. We won’t be silent. Will you?

Contact us if you share our frustration and want to remind the decision-makers in Hartford who they work for.

*Sen. Kelly of Stratford can be reached at Kevin.Kelly@cga.ct.gov . On the web: www.SenatorKevinKelly.com .
*Sen. Tony Hwang of Fairfield can be reached at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov . On the web: www.SenatorHwang.com .

Please join Sen. Hwang and the Fairfield State Delegation for a Legislative Update on Friday, July 15th from 10:30am-11:30am at the Fairfield Bigelow (Senior) Center.

Rep. John Shaban, Sen. Tony Hwang and Sen. Toni Boucher on June 15 hosted a legislative update in the Weston Town Hall Meeting Room.

Area taxpayers attended the event to ask the lawmakers questions about the State of Connecticut’s finances and legislation that was passed at the State Capitol this year.

Shaban, Hwang and Boucher all supported an alternative budget plan which restored the governor’s budget cuts to towns, schools, hospitals, seniors and the disabled. In addition, the lawmakers’ plan called for no new taxes, property tax relief, state mandate relief and a cap on state spending and borrowing.

Shaban, Hwang and Boucher thanked Weston taxpayers for staying active and engaged in state issues and pledged to continue working to pass pro-growth policies which put Connecticut back on a more predictable and sustainable long-term path.

Those who could not attend may contact Hwang and Boucher at 800 842-1421 or Shaban at 800 842-1423.

Fairfield, CT: “Rugby Capital!”

Championship Teams Honored by Lawmakers, Public

Area state lawmakers and residents joined together on June 10 to celebrate the major accomplishments of Fairfield’s rugby clubs.

A ceremony at Anna Liffey’s recognized the Fairfield Yankees Rugby club (www.fairfieldyankeesrugby.org) on winning the 2016 Division III National Championship and the Fairfield Unified Pegasi High School club (www.fairfieldrugby.org/u18-pegasi) on winning the State Championship.

Coaches and players were praised by state lawmakers and presented with an official State Citation for their successful efforts.

“Fairfield truly is a ‘Rugby Capital’,” said Sen. Tony Hwang. “We’re so very proud of these local athletes, and we thank the staff and management at Anna Liffey’s for hosting the post-season ‘scrum’ of a celebration.”

“The Yankee and Pegasi teams are truly special. The bonds between teammates and generations of players help these players to be the champions that they are. We are so proud of both clubs and to have the opportunity to recongize them for their achievement,” Rep. Laura Devlin said.

“We’re so proud of Fairfield Yankees on this hard earned victory. It was great fun meeting the team, their families and coaches,” Rep. Brenda Kupchick said.