Estimating the Effects of Further Expanding Health Insurance Coverage to Noncitizen Populations in Connecticut.

Abstract

Policymakers in Connecticut have used state funding to expand eligibility for HUSKY, Connecticut's Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), to children (through age 15) and to pregnant people who do not qualify for federally funded Medicaid or CHIP coverage because of their immigration status. Policymakers are considering further expansions of eligibility for HUSKY for the remaining population of children and adults. In addition to expansions of HUSKY A (Medicaid for children, parents or caregivers, and pregnant people), HUSKY B (CHIP), and HUSKY D (Medicaid for adults without minor children), policymakers are also considering expanding eligibility for HUSKY C, the program for residents who are ages 65 and older, blind, or disabled, to immigrants. In this study, the authors use microsimulation modeling to estimate the effects of expanding HUSKY eligibility to additional groups by age and eligibility category.