Insurance and Real Estate Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-1044
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY INSURANCE AND
Title: HEALTH CARE IN THIS STATE.
Vote Date: 3/22/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/18/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Insurance and Real Estate Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
To understand the market place, competition and regulation of insurance as it relates to
healthcare. The taskforce will allow further understanding of the insurance industry to make
informed policy recommendations for Connecticut residents.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Ted Doolittle, Office of the Healthcare Advocate requested that the task force include the
Healthcare advocate or his/her designees as an ex officio member of the task force.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Ellen Andrews, PhD, Executive Director, CT Health Policy Project supports the bill as it
will measure the impact of a changing market and will allow recommendations to protect
consumers. One of the main drivers of healthcare costs is consolidation which drives up
costs
without improving quality. While Connecticut has adopted measures to promote competition
in the market, more needs to be done. There also needs to be an improvement on regulatory
review and approval of healthcare mergers and acquisitions. Thus, the study and
discussion of a task force with diverse will allow for best policy reconditions to make health
care more affordable.
Connecticut Hospital Association supports the bill and respectfully requests that the
language be amended to include a hospital representative on the task force, appointed in
consultation with the CHA.
Connecticut Association of Health Plans respectfully flagged the bill and would like input
from the health insurance industry and would like to continue the dialogue.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Eric George, President, Insurance Association of Connecticut opposed the bill as
insurance is highly regulated and under intense scrutiny by their regulators and the
Connecticut Department of Insurance.
Rory Whelan, Regional Vice President, National Association of Mutual Insurance
Companies opposed the bill due to the ambiguity of the scope and purpose of the bill. They
request that any task force charged with reviewing the property and casualty insurance
ecosystem in CT include industry representation.
Reported by: Christina Cruz Date: 04/05/2021
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