Medical Debt Relief

December 30, 2024


 
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After the first of the year, we will be diving right into the beginning of session on January 8. It’s a very exciting time of year for us. You can stay interested and involved with what we are doing by visiting www.cga.ct.gov where you can keep up with the committee schedules and legislation. Some of the hot topics this upcoming session will be Housing, Electric Rates, Legislation Addressing Health Care Access and Affordability, Connecticut's Early Childhood Policy and the state's "fiscal guardrails.”

Here is a link to more background on these key topics. https://cga.ct.gov/olr/issuesconf2024.asp
 
Happy Holidays!
From my family to yours, I want to take a moment to send my best wishes for the holiday season. May it bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness and time well spent together. Remember that no matter how we celebrate, we also share many blessings. So, in the spirit of the season, please spread the joy that makes this time of the year truly special.
Looking ahead to the new year, I am excited for all that we will accomplish together. It is my sincere honor to represent you and work on issues that matter to our community and Connecticut.
 
Happy Holidays!
 
I am grateful for the time off to slow down and enjoy moments with my family and friends.  I am re-visiting a few of my winter hobbies like cooking, ice skating and reading.  In my desire to unplug, I am consciously putting the phone down!  I hope you find time to do what brings you joy this season.
 
Legislative Business 
Thousands of CT Residents Set for Medical Debt Relief
More than 22,000 residents of Connecticut can expect some or all their medical debt to be eliminated, thanks to a major state initiative in partnership with the national nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt.
 
Undue Medical Debt collaborates with state and local governments to leverage public investments, negotiating with hospitals and other providers to eliminate large, bundled portfolios of qualifying medical debt. This initiative specifically targets patients whose income is at or below four times (400%) the federal poverty level, or who have medical debt that constitutes 5% or more of their income. Because these medical debts are acquired in bulk and pertain to individuals who are least able to pay, they can be purchased at a fraction of their face value.

In this initial round, the state allocated approximately $100,000 from its share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. With this investment, Undue Medical Debt successfully negotiated with a secondary market partner (such as a collections agency) and a national provider to acquire approximately $30 million in qualifying medical debt for Connecticut residents.
 
Residents do not need to apply for this medical debt relief, nor can they request it. Those whose debts have been identified for relief will receive a branded letter from Undue Medical Debt detailing which debts have been eliminated. These letters will be sent out through the U.S. mail, starting December 23, 2024.
 
To view a sample of the letter recipients will soon receive in the mail, please click HERE.
 
Porch Piracy
While the holiday season generally brings holiday cheer, there are some Grinches who dampen mood. With online shopping becoming more prevalent, package thieves – better known as porch pirates – have more opportunities to swipe deliveries.
 
The Better Business Bureau, citing a Security.org study, said package thieves stole more than $18 billion in merchandise over the last year.
Here are some ways – courtesy of the BBB – to discourage porch pirates:
  • Don’t leave unattended packages. 

Try to schedule a delivery when you know you will be home. If you aren't going to be home, ask a trusted neighbors if they mind holding on to packages. Also. some retailers offer garage delivery.

  • Ship to store, storefront or post office box.

Consider shipping to a retailer with a physical location near your home or, if you have one, ship to a post office box that accepts packages.

  • Use a security camera.

Installing a home security system with cameras or a video doorbell is a great way to deter package theft, especially when highly visible.

  • Require a signature. 

Many delivery companies include the option to require a signature before leaving a package but be sure to check with the delivery company on their policy for packages that are not signed for; they may return it to the sender after a certain number of attempts.

  • Opt-in to notifications

Most retailers provide tracking details with links to delivery services; some even send their own emails to let you know when something has landed on your stoop.
If you fear your package being stolen, file a report with your local police department and the delivery company. Depending on your delivery service, they may offer insurance or other policies to reimburse you for your losses.
 
Elder Fraud
Recent incidents in New Haven and Fairfield County show anyone can be the victim of an online scam. However, millions of our elderly neighbors are targeted for some type of financial fraud every year. With the holiday season upon us, it's an important reminder that not everyone is acting from a benevolent place in their heart. With the elderly population growing and seniors racking up more than $3 billion in losses annually, elder fraud has remained a growing problem.
 
Common elder fraud schemes include the Romance scam (Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites); Tech support scam (Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues); Grandparent scam (Criminals pose as a relative — usually a child or grandchild — claiming to be in immediate financial need); Government impersonation scam (Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments); and Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam (Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstake, which they can collect for a fee).
There are ways to protect yourself and your loved ones, including the following (courtesy of the FBI and 2-1-1): 
  • If you believe there is a scam attempt, end all communication with that individual. Create a shared verbal family password or phrase that only you and your loved ones know. Also, disconnect from the internet and shut down your device if you see a pop-up message or locked screen.
  • Search online for the contact information (name, email, phone number, addresses) and the proposed offer. Other people have likely posted information online about individuals and businesses trying to run scams.
  • Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to produce fear and lure victims into immediate action.
  • Call the police immediately if you feel there is a danger to yourself or a loved one. Take precautions to protect your identity if a criminal gains access to your device or account. Immediately contact your financial institutions to place protections on your accounts and monitor your accounts and personal information for suspicious activity.
  • Be cautious of unsolicited phone calls, mailings, and door-to-door services offers.
  • Never give or send any personally identifiable information, money, gold or other precious metals, jewelry, gift cards, checks, or wire information to unverified people or businesses.
  • Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don't know.

Contacts and more information

Office of the Attorney General – Senior Fraud Hotline
The State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Unit runs an Elder Justice Senior Fraud Hotline at 860-808-5420. The office also has a website here. 

Department of Aging and Disability Services
The Connecticut Department of Aging and Disability Services posts recent examples of frauds and scams on their website here:
To Find Services in Connecticut’s Community Resources Database:
Search by Provider Name: Better Business Bureau of Connecticut
by Service Name: Fraud Prevention
 
Capitol Tours
Murphy School 4th Graders came to visit the CT State Capitol and the historical CT State House. It’s so nice to have youthful faces in the building. I explained the work I do for their families in Branford and others across the state and asked for their ideas for future legislation. I hope that their visit has encouraged future interest in what we do in state government.
 
UConn Storrs Campus Visit 
I enjoyed my visit to the UConn Storrs Campus, our state’s flagship public university.  They shared with legislators the contributions that UConn and UConn Health make to economic and workforce development in Connecticut. As a global research university that educates and innovates for the benefit of Connecticut and the world, 76% of employed in state graduates stay to work in Connecticut or go to graduate school in the state. 

The University continues to prepare thousands of undergraduate and graduate students to enter our state’s economy as engineers, physicians, dentists, nurses, teachers, attorneys, social workers, scientists, business leaders and so much more. 

I look forward to working to preserve access to affordable, quality public higher education for Connecticut’s students, to provide exceptional healthcare to the state’s residents, and to maintain the University’s role as a catalyst for discovery, innovation, job creation, and preparing the state’s future workforce.