Losing a job in Connecticut puts two state systems to work at once: Access Health CT, the state-run ACA Marketplace, and HUSKY Health, the Connecticut Department of Social Services program that delivers Medicaid and CHIP. Employer coverage ending is a qualifying life event (QLE) under federal rules, so you get a 60-day Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP) regardless of why you left the job. The clock starts on the day your employer coverage ends, which is often the last day of the month and not your last day of work. Connecticut also protects workers beyond federal COBRA: state law requires fully insured group plans to offer continuation coverage for up to 30 months, and the protection reaches employees of small employers with fewer than 20 workers, who are exempt from federal COBRA. Confirm your exact coverage end date with HR or your insurer's notice, then work through the steps below in order: HUSKY screening first, Access Health CT second, continuation coverage only if you have a specific clinical reason.
Connecticut is a Medicaid expansion state, so HUSKY D covers adults ages 19 to 64 with household income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), with no asset test. For 2026, that line is $22,025 for a single person and $45,540 for a family of four, based on the HHS ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines. Above that line, Access Health CT premium tax credits apply up to 400% FPL ($63,840 single and $132,000 family of four in 2026). The 400% FPL subsidy cliff returned for 2026 because the enhanced federal tax credits expired on January 1, 2026, so Connecticut households that earn just above the line now face full unsubsidized premiums. Unemployment compensation from the Connecticut Department of Labor counts as income, so project your 2026 earnings carefully before applying. Apply at accesshealthct.com or call 1-855-805-4325, and the shared application screens you for HUSKY Health, Covered Connecticut, and Marketplace subsidies at the same time. See the federal poverty level page and ACA income limits for the full 2026 thresholds.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
Connecticut residents lose the most money after a layoff by making these 2026 mistakes:
- Electing COBRA before pricing Access Health CT plans. COBRA at 102% of the full group premium is usually the most expensive option once premium tax credits or HUSKY Health are available.
- Reporting your old salary instead of projected 2026 income. Marketplace subsidies use what you expect to earn for the rest of the year, including unemployment benefits, not your last W-2.
- Missing the 60-day window. Applications that arrive on Day 61 are denied for SEP enrollment and must wait for the next Open Enrollment Period unless another qualifying event occurs.
- Assuming small-employer workers have no continuation option. Connecticut state law protects employees of fully insured employers with fewer than 20 workers even though federal COBRA does not apply to them.
- Skipping HUSKY Health screening. HUSKY D is free for adults at or below 138% FPL ($22,025 single in 2026), and a household that gets there after a layoff often never checks.
COBRA vs Connecticut State Continuation vs Access Health CT in 2026
Access Health CT is the default first choice for most Connecticut households that lose job-based coverage in 2026. Marketplace plans come with premium tax credits for incomes from 100% to 400% FPL, and Silver plans add cost-sharing reductions for incomes up to 250% FPL, which can cut deductibles sharply. The trade-off is network: Access Health CT carriers may not include every doctor from your old employer plan, so check provider directories before you choose. Plan costs rose in 2026 because the enhanced federal tax credits expired on January 1, 2026, so compare the net premium after your credit rather than assuming last year's prices. KFF's marketplace data at kff.org tracks how subsidy changes affected net premiums across states. Access Health CT also lists dental plans and offers free help from certified enrollment specialists in every Connecticut county, so you can compare Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers side by side before the 60-day window closes in 2026.
Federal COBRA preserves your exact employer plan at 102% of the full group premium, typically $500 to $2,000/mo for an individual in 2026, for up to 18 months after a layoff. Connecticut state continuation under CGS Section 38a-512a goes further for fully insured plans: up to 30 months, and it reaches workers at employers with fewer than 20 employees. Self-insured employer plans follow federal COBRA only. Keep COBRA or state continuation for narrow cases: a transplant or cancer treatment with a provider outside Access Health CT networks, or a deductible you already met in 2026. Spouse's employer plans qualify under Section 9831 (HIPAA) creditable-coverage rules and usually give a 30-day enrollment window, often cheaper than COBRA. The IRS COBRA guidance at irs.gov confirms the 60-day election period and the 102% premium ceiling, while healthcare.gov explains that choosing COBRA does not extend your Marketplace SEP, so decide on both paths within the same 60 days in 2026.
HUSKY Health Eligibility After Losing Your Job in Connecticut 2026
HUSKY Health is the Connecticut Department of Social Services umbrella for Medicaid and CHIP. HUSKY D covers adults ages 19 to 64 with household income at or below 138% FPL, which is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of four in 2026, with no asset test. HUSKY A covers children, pregnant people, and parent caretakers at higher income levels, while HUSKY B is Connecticut's CHIP program for children in families above the HUSKY A limits. Enrollment is year-round through accesshealthct.com, the DSS portal, or 1-855-805-4325, and medicaid.gov confirms that Medicaid has no open enrollment deadline. Covered Connecticut also offers no-premium coverage to some residents with incomes up to 175% FPL who do not qualify for HUSKY, so the shared application matters even when you expect to land above the HUSKY line. Applying early also protects you: HUSKY Health coverage can begin as early as the first day of the month you apply, which helps when a medical need arises right after a layoff, and the Connecticut Department of Social Services will mail a determination notice you should keep for your records in 2026.
Connecticut counts unemployment compensation as MAGI income for HUSKY D and for Marketplace credits. A single adult whose 2026 projected income is $22,000 qualifies for HUSKY D, while one at $22,100 moves to Access Health CT with premium tax credits. Income can change month to month after a layoff, so report changes to Access Health CT as they happen. If you land a new job later in 2026, HUSKY Health can end and the Marketplace plan can adjust. See the Medicaid income limits page for the 2026 thresholds by household size. Connecticut residents can also check the HHS ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines at aspe.hhs.gov to confirm the exact 138% FPL line, which scales with household size and applies to the 48 contiguous states and DC.
Documents Needed to Enroll in Access Health CT After a Job Loss
Access Health CT requires proof that the job-loss qualifying life event occurred inside your 60-day window, and it asks for that proof within 30 days after you select a plan. A termination letter or employer coverage-end letter on company letterhead is the most direct proof. A COBRA or Connecticut continuation election notice also works, because it states the date your coverage ends. Pay stubs or a Connecticut Department of Labor benefit award letter document your projected 2026 income for subsidy math. Social Security numbers for each applicant, proof of Connecticut residency, and immigration documents for non-citizen applicants complete the standard package. Gather these before you start the application so the verification step does not delay your coverage start date. Keep copies of every notice, because Access Health CT may request a clearer document if the first upload is unreadable, and a request that goes unanswered can cancel your plan before the first premium is due in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Special Enrollment Period window after losing a job in Connecticut?
Connecticut residents get a 60-day Special Enrollment Period through Access Health CT that starts on the day employer coverage ends and runs for 60 days. For example, if coverage ends November 30, 2026, you can enroll from December 1, 2026 through January 29, 2027. The healthcare.gov SEP rules also let you apply up to 60 days before coverage ends, so you can line up a new plan without a gap. Coverage generally starts the first day of the month after you select a plan. HUSKY Health and Covered Connecticut have no deadline and accept applications year-round at accesshealthct.com or 1-855-805-4325.
What documents do I need to enroll in Access Health CT after a job loss?
Access Health CT asks for written proof of your qualifying life event within 30 days after you select a plan. Acceptable proof includes a termination or layoff letter, an employer coverage-end letter, or a COBRA or Connecticut continuation notice that states your coverage end date. You also need pay stubs or a Connecticut Department of Labor unemployment award letter to document your projected 2026 income, Social Security numbers for every applicant, and proof of Connecticut residency such as a driver's license or utility bill. Immigration documents apply to non-citizen applicants, and birth certificates help when you add children. Gather these before applying so verification does not delay your start date.
What if I miss the 60-day Access Health CT window after losing my job?
Missing the 60-day SEP means you cannot buy an Access Health CT plan until the next Open Enrollment Period, which begins November 1 each year, unless another qualifying life event occurs, such as marriage, a birth, or a move. In the meantime you have no ACA coverage protection. HUSKY Health stays open year-round if your 2026 income is at or below 138% FPL ($22,025 single), and Covered Connecticut also accepts applications at any time. COBRA and state continuation run on a separate election window, so you may still be able to elect them even if the Marketplace window closed. Check your notice for that date right away.
Can I get retroactive coverage after losing my job in Connecticut?
COBRA and Connecticut state continuation coverage are retroactive: if you elect within your 60-day election window and pay the first premium on time, coverage reaches back to the day your employer plan ended, so claims in the gap are covered. Access Health CT Marketplace coverage is not retroactive for loss-of-coverage SEPs. It starts the first of the month after you select a plan, so choose a plan before your coverage ends when possible. HUSKY Health can also cover medical bills from before your application date in some cases, which you can ask about when you apply with the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
What is the difference between COBRA and Access Health CT after a layoff?
COBRA keeps your exact employer plan for up to 18 months at 102% of the full group premium, typically $500 to $2,000/mo for an individual in 2026, with no premium tax credit. Access Health CT sells new ACA plans with premium tax credits for incomes from 100% to 400% FPL in 2026, so most laid-off workers pay far less, but your doctors may not all be in the network. Connecticut also requires fully insured group plans to offer state continuation for up to 30 months. Choose COBRA only for an out-of-network specialist or a deductible you already met this year; otherwise compare Access Health CT first. You have 60 days to decide on either option.
What Connecticut-specific rules apply after a job loss in 2026?
Connecticut law (CGS Section 38a-512a) requires fully insured group health plans to offer state continuation coverage for up to 30 months, compared with 18 months under federal COBRA, and it protects workers at employers with fewer than 20 employees who fall outside federal COBRA. Self-insured plans follow federal COBRA only, so check with HR which type of plan you had. Connecticut also runs its own Marketplace, Access Health CT, and its own Medicaid brand, HUSKY Health, run by the Department of Social Services. Covered Connecticut offers no-premium coverage to some residents up to 175% FPL who do not qualify for HUSKY. Call the Connecticut Insurance Department if your notice looks wrong.
Do I qualify for HUSKY Health after losing my job in Connecticut?
You qualify for HUSKY D if you are a non-pregnant adult ages 19 to 64 and your projected 2026 household MAGI is at or below 138% FPL: $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, $37,702 for three, and $45,540 for four. Connecticut expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so there is no asset test for expansion adults. Unemployment compensation counts as income. Parents and caretakers may qualify for HUSKY A at higher income levels. Apply at accesshealthct.com, which screens for HUSKY Health, Covered Connecticut, and Marketplace subsidies together, or call 1-855-805-4325. Enrollment is year-round, so you do not need a Special Enrollment Period.
What happens to my children's coverage when I lose my job in Connecticut?
Your children can qualify for HUSKY Health even when you do not. HUSKY A covers children in lower-income households, and HUSKY B is Connecticut's CHIP program for children in families above the HUSKY A limits, with no waiting list and year-round enrollment. Children are not bound by the 60-day SEP that applies to adult Marketplace enrollment. If your family income is above the HUSKY B limits, add the children to your Access Health CT family plan within 60 days of the coverage loss. Apply once at accesshealthct.com and the shared application screens every household member for HUSKY A, HUSKY B, and Marketplace subsidies in 2026.
