CONNECTICUT — Eligible child-care educators and staff can receive $1,000 to $1,200 a year toward health-insurance premiums through a new state subsidy beginning in 2027. Enrollment opens Friday, October 23, through Access Health CT, according to the exchange and the Office of Early Childhood.
The benefit covers workers in OEC-licensed child-care centers, group homes and family child-care homes. Eligible roles include teachers, directors, administrative employees and support staff. Public-school preschool teachers are excluded from this particular program; employment in a licensed child-care setting is required.
Workers should first create an account in OEC’s Professional Registry and have their registry number ready. They then apply through Access Health CT during open enrollment, identifying their work in early childhood education. The exchange may request employment documents after enrollment.
The annual amount depends on household income relative to the federal poverty level. Access Health CT lists $1,200 above 175% through 250% of that threshold, $1,100 above 250% through 400%, and $1,000 above 400%. Applicants should use the exchange’s eligibility determination for their household rather than treating a percentage as an individual dollar-income cutoff.
The subsidy applies to qualifying coverage purchased through Access Health CT. People eligible for HUSKY Health or Covered CT do not receive this additional subsidy. It may be combined with other available financial assistance when eligibility permits, and payment goes to the insurer rather than arriving as a separate check to the worker.
Open enrollment ends January 15, 2027. Enrolling by December 15 is the deadline for January 1 coverage; enrollment from December 16 through January 15 produces a February 1 start under the program guidance. Applicants should check the official page before choosing a plan.
The subsidy is part of Connecticut’s Early Childhood Education Endowment. Gov. Ned Lamont’s June 30 funding announcement said its fiscal 2027 budget includes $10 million for workforce health-insurance assistance. Wednesday’s reporting by CT Mirror described the benefit as one part of broader efforts to retain early-childhood staff; it is separate from child-care tuition assistance for families.