Connecticut Health Insurance 2026: Access Health CT, Covered CT & Costs

Connecticut health insurance for 2026 centers on Access Health CT, the state’s own exchange that operates independently of HealthCare.gov. Only two carriers participate in 2026 — Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and ConnectiCare — offering 22 plans across Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Catastrophic tiers. The Connecticut Insurance Department cut carrier rate requests from an average 23.3 percent to 16.8 percent, and the state added $70 million in subsidies to offset the expiration of enhanced federal credits. Connecticut’s Covered CT program continues to provide $0-premium, $0-cost-sharing Silver coverage for residents up to 175 percent of the federal poverty level, and a new Temporary Premium Assistance program extends partial state subsidies through 2026 for households up to 500 percent FPL. This guide covers the full Connecticut health insurance landscape — Access Health CT enrollment, both carriers, Covered CT, HUSKY Health, costs by income, and when off-marketplace PPO coverage makes more sense for Connecticut health insurance buyers above the subsidy cliff.

How Access Health CT Works in 2026

Connecticut operates Access Health CT, its own state-based marketplace, rather than using HealthCare.gov. Connecticut residents enroll at AccessHealthCT.com, the only place where federal premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, the Covered Connecticut program, and the new state-funded Temporary Premium Assistance are available. Two carriers offer the full 22-plan lineup for 2026: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield with 83,790 enrollees across its broader statewide network, and ConnectiCare with 3,685 enrollees focused on in-state provider networks.

Connecticut extended the 2026 open enrollment period to January 31, 2026 — two weeks longer than the standard federal deadline — in response to the enhanced subsidy expiration and new state assistance programs. A Special Enrollment Period for Temporary Premium Assistance ran from February 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 for residents not already enrolled.

Why Connecticut Premiums Rose 16.8 Percent for 2026

The Connecticut Insurance Department approved an average 16.8 percent rate increase for 2026, cutting carrier requests averaging 23.3 percent. Anthem was approved at 13.6 percent average on 83,790 enrollees, with individual plan ranges from 6.1 percent to 22.5 percent. ConnectiCare sought 26.1 percent (later 34.5 percent) on 3,685 enrollees. Primary drivers were higher emergency department utilization, behavioral health costs, and specialty pharmacy spending — plus the December 31, 2025 expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits.

Covered Connecticut and the 2026 Subsidy Programs

Connecticut offers layered financial assistance programs that make coverage significantly cheaper than sticker prices suggest for most enrollees. About 80 percent of Access Health CT enrollees received premium tax credits in 2026, with average credits of $952 per month and an average net premium of $100 per month. The table below maps income to the applicable assistance program.

Connecticut’s Two Health Insurance Carriers for 2026

Connecticut has the fewest on-exchange carriers of any state with a functioning marketplace — just two for 2026. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield dominates with 83,790 enrollees and the broadest provider network in the state. ConnectiCare, a Connecticut-based carrier, serves 3,685 enrollees with a more concentrated in-state network. Both carriers offer plans across Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers; Anthem also offers the two Catastrophic plans available on the exchange.

HUSKY Health — Connecticut Medicaid and CHIP

Connecticut health insurance enrollment and eligibility go through Access Connecticut at access.ct.gov or by calling 1-855-805-4325. Rate filings and consumer complaints route through the Connecticut Insurance Department, which cut the 2026 carrier requests from an average 23.3 percent down to the approved 16.8 percent.

Connecticut Does Not Have a State Health Insurance Mandate

Connecticut does not impose a state individual health insurance mandate. The federal mandate penalty was reduced to $0 effective 2019, and Connecticut — unlike Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, Rhode Island, and Washington DC — has not enacted a replacement. Residents who go without coverage owe no state tax penalty. Connecticut has considered but not passed a mandate over several legislative sessions.

Going uninsured in Connecticut forfeits federal premium tax credits, Covered CT benefits worth thousands of dollars annually for low-income residents, and HUSKY Health eligibility for qualifying adults. It also exposes households to the full cost of any medical care needed during a coverage gap — Connecticut has some of the highest hospital rates in the country, with average emergency department visits running $2,000–$4,000 before insurance adjustments at Yale New Haven Health and Hartford HealthCare systems.

How to Choose Connecticut Coverage for Your Situation

With only two carriers on exchange and layered state subsidy programs that don’t appear in Access Health CT’s online system for 2026, choosing the right Connecticut health insurance requires checking actual eligibility by phone as well as comparing online plan prices. The income-based guide below covers the most common buyer situations.

For Connecticut residents above 500 percent FPL — concentrated in Fairfield County, Greenwich, Westport, and the Stamford-New Haven corridor — off-marketplace PPO plans typically offer better value than sticker-priced on-exchange HMOs. See private Connecticut health insurance for off-exchange options, or review the carrier comparison guide for a head-to-head of Anthem and ConnectiCare plans.

Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut Coverage