Connecticut Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Announces Plan To Allow Small Businesses To Buy into State Employees’ Health Plan

Connecticut gubernatorial candidate Bill Curry (D) on Oct. 11 unveiled an "ambitious" health care plan that would allow small businesses, self-employed workers and uninsured state residents to join the health plan that covers state employees, a move that he said would help drive down the cost of coverage for thousands of people, the Hartford Courant reports. Curry first introduced the concept of expanding the state employee health plan during his tenure as state comptroller, but he said that he lacked the authority at the time to implement the proposal. The state Legislature has not adopted the plan since that time. Curry said that his proposal would eliminate insurers' "price-gouging" of small businesses, which often pay "exorbitant" health care premiums for employees. Curry also stated that Connecticut should band together with 40 other states in prescription drug purchasing pools to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Campaign staff for Gov. John Rowland (R), who is running for reelection, said that Curry's proposals are "warmed-over versions of ... previous ideas." Dean Pagani, Rowland's chief campaign spokesperson, said, "It's just more of the same from Curry. There's a lot of information that he puts out, but it doesn't seem to add up" (Keating, Hartford Courant, 10/12).