Here are six things to know:
1. The five insurers involved in lobbying efforts were Anthem, Cigna, CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group and Tufts/Harvard Pilgrim.
2. In 2021 alone, payers and allies spent a total of $1.3 million to lobby against the public option legislation. About $338,000 came directly from the five insurers, according to the report.
3. Other portions came from trade groups and “dark money organizations,” according to the Stamford Advocate. The CT Association of Health Plans spent over $301,000 on lobbying efforts, making it the front-runner, followed by Partnership for America’s Health Care Future Action at $300,477 in contributions.
4. In April, the five payers sent a letter to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont threatening to take “their” jobs elsewhere should the public option be enacted, according to the report.
5. Allyship also came from some lawmakers who sent over 50,000 unsolicited emails to constituents, according to the report. The emails were filled with misinformation, claiming that consumers would be forced to join plans.
6. Tufts/Harvard Pilgrim was the only payer to return the Advocate’s request for comment, asserting that the organization is committed to making private health insurance in the state more affordable and that it has no plans to move out of Connecticut.
