Connecticut residents have until Dec. 15 to choose an Access Health CT plan if they want coverage to start Jan. 1, and the state says it is continuing its premium assistance for eligible residents in 2027. Gov. Ned Lamont and Insurance Commissioner Joshua Hershman urged residents to review their coverage in a November release. Open enrollment began Oct. 23 and runs through Jan. 15, 2027.
The two deadlines are not the same, and the difference is a full month of coverage. Enrolling by Dec. 15 starts coverage Jan. 1. Enrolling from Dec. 16 through Jan. 15 starts coverage Feb. 1, which leaves January uncovered for anyone who waits.
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What does the Dec. 15 cutoff mean for January?
Under the dates in the governor’s release, enrolling by Dec. 15, 2026, starts coverage Jan. 1, 2027. A person who signs up between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15 gets a Feb. 1 start. Access Health CT’s own page lists the same three dates: open enrollment from Oct. 23, 2026, to Jan. 15, 2027, with the Dec. 15 line for a January start.
Open enrollment started earlier this year than in previous years, according to reporting on the exchange’s launch of 2027 enrollment. People who renew each year in the last week of December can miss the window without realizing it moved. Anyone who has an Access Health CT account can log in, confirm that every member of the household is entered, and compare the plans for 2027.
Access Health CT offers 22 qualified health plans through Anthem and ConnectiCare Benefits, according to a report on the start of 2027 enrollment. The exchange’s phone line is 1-855-805-4325, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the TTY number is 1-855-789-2428.
The release points residents to AccessHealthCT.com and describes the marketplace as the only place residents can qualify for financial assistance through the marketplace. That makes the exchange, rather than an outside website, the starting point for anyone who wants the state’s help. A household that has been covered through the exchange before should still re-enter income and household details, because help is calculated from them.
Who gets Connecticut’s premium help?
The governor’s release says the state’s Temporary Premium Assistance program helps eligible residents offset the loss of the enhanced federal premium tax credits, and that the state is continuing it in 2027. The release does not give dollar amounts or the funding behind it. Access Health CT’s page describes two income bands where the state steps in.
For households between 100 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty level, the exchange says the state covers the full difference between the standard tax credit and the expired enhanced credit. The income range is $15,650 to $31,300 for one person and $32,150 to $64,300 for a family of four. The page says people must not already be enrolled in the Covered CT program.
For households at 400 percent to 500 percent of the poverty level, the state provides half of the expired enhanced credit. That covers $62,600.01 to $78,250 for an individual and $128,600.01 to $160,750 for a family of four. Access Health CT’s page does not list dollar amounts for either group.
How many people already get help?
The governor’s release says about 80 percent of Access Health CT customers receive some form of financial assistance. Reporting on the exchange says 157,246 people signed up for qualified health plans in the 2026 open enrollment, a 4 percent increase and the third straight record year. Covered CT enrollment rose to 51,629 from 41,165.
The same report says the Temporary Premium Assistance program, introduced in 2026 and extended into 2027, has saved 10,597 residents more than $1.79 million so far. James Michel, Access Health CT’s chief executive, said in a news release: “Choosing health insurance can be hard, but you do not have to do it alone. We are here to help.” Certified brokers give free help, and enrollment specialists take one-on-one appointments, the exchange says.
Why not shop on the monthly premium alone?
Hershman’s advice in the release was direct: “Don’t compare plans based on the monthly premium alone.” A plan with a lower monthly price can carry higher deductibles and copays, so the right comparison weighs what a household expects to use in a year.
The release also describes a new early childhood educators subsidy that begins in 2027, which may pay $1,000 to $1,200 a year to eligible early childhood educators and employees at licensed child care programs. It can be combined with other assistance. Small employers that offer coverage through individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements may qualify for tax incentives under a separate state program.
Choosing a plan does not finish the household budget. A premium is one monthly bill among several, and once it is set the other fixed costs, including phone and internet, are the ones a household can still change.
Done choosing a plan, but is the rest of the monthly budget ready?
A premium is set once Dec. 15 passes, and a missed date can leave January uncovered. The fixed bills that sit beside it, phone and internet among them, are the ones a household can still change.
Lower Your Phone & Internet Bill reads the bill line by line and marks what to keep, question or remove, and includes the retention call, word for word. It is a 12-page walkthrough that also compares carrier 55+ plans from T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
