Dear Friend,
   
On Thursday, October 23rd, I held a tele-town hall to discuss the cuts to health care and how that will affect the premiums you pay for insurance plans through Access Health Connecticut. I also discussed access to SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. If you were unable to attend but are interested in listening to a recorded version, please click here.
 
According to the CT Government, the 360,000 Connecticut residents who receive SNAP benefits each year can use their benefits to purchase food through October 31st. As a result of a recent release of funds from the federal government, WIC recipients still have access to benefits for at least the first couple weeks of November. The Trump Administration has not released emergency funds for SNAP benefits and recently informed the states that November benefits will not be paid. Last week, I joined a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins urging her to release existing SNAP funding to continue providing benefits for the almost 42 million Americans that rely on this money to feed themselves and their families. Please rest assured, I will continue to fight to ensure that families who rely on these benefits can put food on their tables next month. For more information on SNAP benefits during a government shutdown, click here. If you or someone you know needs food immediately, please call 211 or visit their website at 211ct.org.

Medicare Open Enrollment is open and runs until December 7th. In case you need help with selecting the right coverage for you, the State of Connecticut’s CHOICES program is available to help. This program helps to empower, educate, and assist Medicare eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers through objective outreach, counseling, and training to make informed health insurance decisions that optimize access to care and benefits. CHOICES is administered by the state’s five Area Agencies on Aging, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and the Connecticut Department on Aging and Disability Services. For more information, you can visit this website or call CHOICES at 1-800-994-9422.
 
Access Health CT Enrollment for health and dental insurance starts on November 1st and runs until January 15th. Access Health CT is Connecticut’s official health insurance marketplace where you can shop, compare, and enroll in quality insurance plans. In case you need help with selecting the right coverage for you, Access Health CT is available to help you. You can call Access Health CT at 1-855-805-4325, message a specialist through Live Chat here, or visit one of their Enrollment Locations.

If you or your loved ones have questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my district office in New Haven at (203) 562-3718 – my staff and I will do whatever we can to assist you.

To stay informed on future tele-town halls and my day-to-day work in Connecticut’s Third District and in Washington, D.C., please visit www.delauro.house.gov, subscribe to my newsletter here, and follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bluesky.

                                                                                               Sincerely,