Gary Turco

This session, I introduced HB 5127, An Act Concerning Medical Credit Cards, a consumer protection bill to ensure Connecticut patients are not pushed into high-interest credit products while seeking medical care.

Medical credit cards are third-party financing products marketed specifically for health care expenses. They are often presented as “no interest” options, but many carry interest rates exceeding 30% and include deferred-interest terms that can add substantial costs if the balance is not paid off within a promotional period. In many cases, interest accrues from the date of purchase and is applied retroactively to the full amount if even a small balance remains.

According to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, patients who were assessed deferred interest paid, on average, 23% more than the original purchase price. Nearly 40% of subprime cardholders did not pay off their balances before the promotional period ended. There are approximately 66,000 deferred-interest medical credit card accounts in Connecticut.

Patients have reported that they did not fully understand they were opening a credit card account. Some believed they were signing up for a provider payment plan. Others were offered these products while in waiting rooms, exam rooms, or even while under stress or medication. Once a medical credit card is used, patients may lose the opportunity to negotiate a lower bill or enroll in a provider’s standard payment plan that may offer better protections under state law.

HB 5127 is narrowly tailored to address these concerns. The bill does not regulate banks, interest rates, insurance benefits, or clinical care. Instead, it focuses on how medical credit cards are marketed and processed within health care settings, particularly when patients may be vulnerable.

The bill would:

• Prohibit providers from marketing or promoting medical credit cards in patient care areas such as waiting rooms and exam rooms.

• Ban financial incentives or kickbacks to providers for enrolling patients in these credit products.

• Prevent providers and staff from completing or assisting with credit card applications on behalf of patients.

• Prohibit charging a medical credit card before services are provided.

• Protect Medicaid and Medicare patients by prohibiting the use of medical credit cards for covered services, and require clear disclosure to privately insured patients that credit is not required to receive care.

• Require written disclosures explaining deferred-interest risks when information is provided outside of care settings.

• Ensure patients affirmatively agree to ancillary products and can return unused items for a refund.

Violations would be enforceable under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), using Connecticut’s existing consumer protection framework.

This legislation is about drawing a clear line between medical care and financial products. Patients should be focused on their health — not navigating complex credit agreements in moments of stress or vulnerability. My goal is to promote transparency, prevent coercion, and ensure Connecticut families are protected from unnecessary medical debt.

If you have had a negative experience with a medical credit card like Care Credit, please reach out to my office.

Also in this newsletter you will find information on the following:

• Access Health CT special enrollment period;
• Remote Access medical, dental and vison events;
• the upcoming Lunar Year Celebration;
• and the statewide Student Loan Reimbursement Program.

Have a great weekend!

People who qualify for this Special Enrollment Period include: 

• Households with an annual income between 100% and 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), who are not already enrolled in the Covered CT Program. These people will receive a state subsidy to replace 100% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.
• Households with an annual income over 400% and up to 500% FPL. These people will receive a state subsidy to replace 50% of the expired federal enhanced premium tax credit amounts.  

Eligible people who have already enrolled or plan to enroll in a 2026 health plan will see a credit applied to their carrier bill.
 
It’s important to note that while customers will not see the state subsidy amount in AHCT’s online system until all updates have been made in the coming weeks, all eligible customers will soon receive a notice in the mail from AHCT with the amount of their state subsidy.

Insurance companies will send consumers updated premium bills with the credit for the state subsidy amount. This manual process will begin soon in advance of the system updates to be implemented in the coming weeks.

Free help to sign up is available online, in person, and over the phone.
 
Customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com and click the “Get Help” button on the homepage to find the option that works best for them—including scheduling an appointment, finding a nearby Navigator site or working with a Certified Broker in their area.
 
AHCT has expanded its Navigator program to include six locations around the state and introduced a new Mobile Enrollment Team that supports community events and assists with in-person enrollment, available in English and Spanish.
 
To get help over the phone, customers can call 855-805-4325 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Help is available in over 100 languages.
 
Customers who are deaf or hearing impaired may use TTY at 1-855-789-2428 or call with a relay operator.
 
For free help online, customers can visit AccessHealthCT.com. They can also chat live with a customer service representative by clicking the “Live Chat” icon on the website. Live chat is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Student Loan Reimbursement Program has opened a new grant round and is now accepting applications for student loan payments that were made during the 2025 calendar year.

Since launching its first grant round in January 2025, the program has awarded more than $2.2 million in reimbursements to borrowers statewide.

Eligible applicants can apply for reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 per year, with a maximum reimbursement of $20,000 over four years. Under the program, a new grant round launches each year, providing reimbursements for payments made during the preceding calendar year.

Eligible applicants may qualify if they:

• Are Connecticut residents and meet program residency requirements
• Made qualifying student loan payments during the 2025 calendar year
• Earned a degree from a Connecticut institution of higher education or completed a state-approved program required for professional licensure or certification
• Meet income limits of $125,000 for single filers or $175,000 for married filers
• Completed required community service or qualify for a hardship waiver in certain circumstances

Applications must be submitted online through the CT Scholars portal, where applicants need to complete an application and upload required documentation. Applications will be reviewed on a first come first serve basis through December 2026 or until funds are exhausted.

Click here for application instructions. Questions regarding the program and the application process can be directed to OHE.SLRP@ct.gov.