Starting Jan. 1, 2027, Connecticut’s Medicaid program—known locally as HUSKY—will impose new community‑engagement requirements on adults without dependents. Enrollees in the HUSKY D plan must prove at least 80 hours of work, school, volunteer service or qualified training each month, and they will need to recertify eligibility every six months instead of annually.
Local response in Stamford
Stamford Health, in partnership with Mayor Caroline Simmons’ office and several nonprofit groups, has created the HUSKY Stay Covered Task Force. The task force will conduct door‑to‑door outreach, place community health workers at key locations, and publicize work‑and‑volunteer opportunities that satisfy the new requirements. Kathleen Silard, president and CEO of Stamford Health, said the effort is “our obligation and our responsibility to provide this support to the individuals in our community.” Ben Wade, the health system’s chief strategy officer, added that the goal is to keep eligible residents “connected to care.”
New Haven’s Fair Haven Community Health Care plan
Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) in New Haven is also preparing. Sue Lagarde, FHCHC’s CEO, explained that many patients could lose coverage simply because they lack a pay stub or cannot easily demonstrate employment to the state. To address this, FHCHC is reviewing whether HUSKY D members qualify for HUSKY C, the Medicaid track for people with disabilities, which would exempt them from the work requirement. Certified application counselors will be on site to guide patients through the redetermination process, and the center will create a limited number of volunteer positions to help meet the community‑engagement hour count.
Statewide impact
The Department of Social Services estimates that about 110,000 Connecticut residents could lose HUSKY coverage if they cannot meet the new standards. Hospitals note that treating uninsured patients is far less financially sustainable than treating Medicaid patients, giving them a strong incentive to assist with compliance.
Research from other states that have adopted work requirements—such as Arkansas—showed higher administrative costs without measurable employment gains. Federal officials argue the rules will build skills and independence and could lift up to 2.9 million people out of poverty, depending on local job availability.
How residents can check eligibility
State officials have posted a pre‑screening tool on the Department of Social Services website. Residents are encouraged to use the tool early to determine whether the new rules apply to them and to begin gathering required documentation.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
