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Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty

Representing the 5th District of Connecticut

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Health Care

Elizabeth receives her annual flu shot at Meriden’s Protein Sciences Corporation.

I strongly support making quality health care more accessible and more affordable for every American. The Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, but it is a significant step in the right direction. Many of its reforms are making a tremendous difference for people across Connecticut, and we can be proud that our state is leading the way in successfully and responsibly expanding access to health care. While I believe we can and should enact adjustments and improvements to the Affordable Care Act, repeal is not a solution. I’ve consistently opposed bills that would fully repeal the Affordable Care Act or block implementation of the law.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, over half a million Connecticut residents have enrolled for health insurance through our state's marketplace. Additionally, over 47,500 Connecticut residents have already received $3.4 billion in rebates from insurance companies due to the ACA requirement that insurance companies spend at least 80% of premiums each year on actual medical expenses for patients or provide a refund to beneficiaries.

Connecticut residents and businesses owners  can shop for plans in our state’s health insurance marketplace, Access Health CT. The Open Enrollment period for 2017 coverage ends on January 31, 2017. You may compare plans and shop for coverage online at www.accesshealthct.com or call 1‐855‐805-HEALTH (4325) to speak with a representative. Learn more here.

For more information on my work and views on education or to let me know your thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.

More on Health Care

CT House Delegation Releases New Pre-Existing Conditions Report Showing 168,000 in CT May Lose Coverage or See Premium Increases Due to Trump

October 31, 2018 Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Congressman John Larson (CT-01), Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04), and Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) released the following statements on a new House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee report, which shows that 168,000 people in Connecticut could be denied coverage or see drastic premium increases due to the Trump Administration’s actions to undermine the Affordable Care Act. By refusing to defend the 2010 law in federal court and failing to offer any alternative proposals to protect individuals, the Trump Administration is putting women, seniors, and those with pre-existing conditions at great risk of losing coverage.

Esty Praises House Opioid Bill, Funding for Female Veterans

September 28, 2018 Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) praised her Republican and Democratic colleagues coming together to pass H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act. The bill also included language from Esty’s bill, H.R. 4635, Women Veterans Peer Counseling Enhancement Act, which would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the number of peer-to-peer counselors providing counseling for women veterans. The Women Veterans Peer Counseling Enhancement Act took language and initiatives from Esty’s original bill, H.R. 2452, the Deborah Sampson Act, which Esty introduced in March 2017.

Esty Sees Burn Pits Legislation Signed Into Law

September 26, 2018 Press Release
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) celebrated H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019, being signed into law after it was announced that on Friday, September 21, that President Trump had signed it. The bill included language from Esty’s bill, H.R. 1279, the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act.

Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $31 Million in New Federal Opioid Funding for Connecticut

September 21, 2018 Press Release
The Connecticut Congressional Delegation today announced nearly $31 million in new federal funding to Connecticut to help combat the opioid epidemic.

Esty Calls on Department of Defense to Enhance Understanding of Burn Pits

September 20, 2018 Press Release
After the Department of Defense declined to attend a hearing held by the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on burn pits and toxic exposures, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) sent a letter to Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis to call on the agency to release information about what steps the Department of Defense is taking to enhance understanding of the health effects associated with exposure to burn pits.

Esty, King, Ruiz See Victory with Burn Pits Legislation

September 13, 2018 Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 5895, the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2019, by a vote of 377-20. The bill, also known as the minibus, included language from Esty’s bill, H.R. 1279, the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act. Esty introduced the measure with Rep. Peter King (NY-2).

Connecticut Congressional Delegation Applauds Over $2 Million for 16 Health Centers Across Connecticut

August 15, 2018 Press Release
Today, during National Health Center week, the Connecticut Congressional Delegation applauded $2,387,361 in Quality Improvement grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to 16 community health centers across Connecticut.

Esty, DeLauro Call for Protection of Family Nutrition Programs

July 31, 2018 Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) sent a letter to Mick Mulvaney, the Director of the Office of Management and Policy, to express their concerns regarding the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) proposal to transfer and reorganize the oversight of non-commodity nutrition programs including the Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Esty Hails Increase in Funding for Research on Exposure to Burn Pits

June 29, 2018 Press Release
Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) praised the House passage of H.R. 6157, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The bill, which cleared the House by a vote of 359-49, included language to increase funding for research on toxic exposure to burn pits. Earlier this Congress, Esty, Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA), and Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced H.R. 1279, the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act, which would create a center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of health conditions related to exposure to burn pits.

Esty Praises House Passage of Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act

June 27, 2018 Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) celebrated the passage of H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017. Earlier this week, the bill passed the House by a vote of 382-0 and now heads to the Senate for consideration. Esty, who serves on the Committee of Veterans Affairs and is the Ranking Member on the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs subcommittee, is also a cosponsor of the legislation.