Rep. Dauphinais ‘Health Insurance Mandate Pushes Additional Costs onto Those Already Insured’

HARTFORD – Earlier this year, an insurance bill was brought forth on the House floor which now added pregnancy as a “qualifying event for special enrollment periods for certain individuals.”

“Instead of purchasing insurance during open enrollment periods and pooling the risk among those insured, the passage of Public Act 18-43 will now require all private insurance companies to allow an uninsured woman who becomes pregnant enrollment up to 30 days after commencement,” Rep. Dauphinais said.

Representative Dauphinais was one of ten state representatives in the general assembly to vote against this bill, despite hers and others’ opposition, the bill passed. Rep. Dauphinais said there were a few reasons as to why she voted “no”.

1. It will increase annual heath care premiums for everyone in the state that has private health insurance by $75-100 or more. This will make it harder for many to afford their health insurance…not easier.
2. Connecticut tax payers already subsidize and/or pay for healthcare for pregnant woman if uninsured through Medicaid or Husky A. Dauphinais said just recently an individual told her that she was uninsured, became pregnant and her pregnancy was 100% covered through Husky Insurance.
3. The purpose of insurance is to provide protection against a possible eventuality not after it actually takes place. If this were the case no one would buy insurance but wait until after the incident occurred. Car insurance after an accident, House insurance after your house burns down, health insurance after one is diagnosed with cancer or finally a ….pregnancy. Mandating Insurance companies for this coverage “after the fact” raises the risk pool and therefore results in higher premiums for everyone.

Rep. Dauphinais said many of her legislative colleagues had various concerns with this bill, but unfortunately due to its catchy title they felt voting against it would be seen as though they were against helping uninsured pregnant women acquire healthcare.

“My commitment to not costing the taxpayers more money remains and that this bill was another unnecessary mandate on our businesses,” Dauphinais said. “I promised to be a different type of legislator, one that doesn’t go along with the crowd and if I went along with bills that take more money out of your pocket then I am not keeping that promise.”