In Historic Vote, Legislature Overrides SustiNet Veto

On July 20, Connecticut’s Legislature took a major step forward in the effort to reform our broken health care system by successfully overriding a Governor veto of SustiNet (H.B. 6600), a comprehensive health reform plan developed by the non-profit Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut. The SustiNet Plan, which has been endorsed by AARP, aims to make affordable health coverage available to 98 percent of state residents by 2014.

In announcing AARP’s endorsement of the plan earlier this year, Connecticut State Director Brenda Kelley said, “AARP is working to ensure that all Connecticut residents have access to quality, affordable health care, including the more than 70,000 uninsured Connecticut residents age 50-64.  

“We recognize and applaud the tremendous research, hard work, and commitment that went into designing SustiNet and believe it offers the best opportunity we have to control health care costs, save Connecticut’s families and businesses money and make coverage available to everyone who needs it.”

The SustiNet Plan was developed by the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut after two years of public input and ideas from stakeholders across the state, including consumers, health care professionals, hospitals, large and small businesses, labor and others.   The legislation sets up a public-private board that will develop specific proposals to implement the SustiNet Plan, and any federal reforms, that must be approved by the Legislature.

The SustiNet Plan includes a number of principles that AARP believes are critical to comprehensive health reform, including:

• Ensuring rates are not based on age, gender or health status; guaranteeing coverage for those with chronic or pre-existing conditions;
• Providing a comprehensive benefits package;
• Providing subsidies to make coverage affordable for low-income individuals and families; and
• Preserving choice for Connecticut consumers, by allowing those who are happy with their current private coverage to keep it.

AARP’s advocacy work and public education efforts helped garner legislative support for the proposal.  AARP members logged more than 3,400 calls into the Governor’s office and in response to the Governor’s veto, members sent 362 emails in support of an override to their state Senators.  AARP advocacy volunteers spent the day at the State Capitol talking to legislators and seeking their support prior to the successful override vote.

Following the override vote, AARP’s Kelley said, “AARP would like to thank legislators for doing the right thing and voting to override the Governor’s unfortunate veto of SustiNet.  This is truly an historic occasion in Connecticut.  It marks the beginning of our journey on a sound path toward reform of our healthcare system – a path that will help lower skyrocketing health costs for individuals and businesses and provide affordable, quality coverage for all Connecticut residents who need it.”
     
Under the Plan, coverage enrollment and delivery system innovations designed to lower health costs and improve access will be phased in over 5 years, from 2011 to 2016. Coverage expansion begins January 2011. By 2014, it is estimated that 98 percent of Connecticut residents will be insured.

To learn more about SustiNet, please visit Healthcare 4 Every 1
or Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut.