Connecticut Health Bill Requiring Wellness Programs Vetoed

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week vetoed legislation that would have required group health insurers to offer wellness programs and give enrollees incentives to participate, as well as beefing up benefits in other areas.

Under the measure, H.B. 5021, insurers would have had to offer a wellness program and give enrollees a choice of several incentives—such as a premium reduction and reduced cost-sharing—to participate.

Other provisions would have increased to age 19 from age 13 the maximum age insured plans would have to offer coverage for hearing aids for children; eliminated co-insurance; eliminated co-payments, deductibles or other out-of-pocket payments for health plan enrollees who receive a second or subsequent colonoscopy in a year; and increased to $5,000 from $1,000 annual coverage available for ostomy appliances and supplies. Ostomy includes colostomies.

Gov. Rell said the new mandates had merit, but he was concerned about their cost to policyholders.

“The simple truth is that we cannot afford this bill. It would be fiscally irresponsible to burden our recovery with these significant costs,” she said in a statement.

Filed by Jerry Geisel of Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.

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