Connecticut
1 in 8 can't afford medical bills in Connecticut: study
Newly released data shows 13% of Connecticut households can’t afford their healthcare costs.
The problem is even bigger with families who get their insurance through an employer, with Office of Health Strategy Commissioner Deidre Gifford estimating that number is around 20%.
“What we found, as you’ve seen, is there is a significant chunk of families struggling to pay all of their healthcare bills,” Gifford said.
The data, released earlier this week, highlights the problems people like Dennis Thomas face.
Thomas, of Rocky Hill, had a heart transplant 15 years ago and has been battling colon cancer for years.
“I take about 50 pills a day and with doctors appointments, I have a little saying that I’m always on call,” Thomas said.
Thomas is currently on Medicaid but had insurance through his employer when he had his heart transplant, a procedure he said cost “over $1 million.”
He’s still has tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt and he said the stress of those piling bills only made his health condition worse.
“It was a surreal feeling because I’m waiting for a heart but I still have bills that are piling up,” Thomas said.
According to the OHS study, healthcare is considered affordable when all costs – including insurance premiums, deductibles and other costs – are between 7% and 11% of a household’s income, depending on the size of the family.
OHS did the study in partnership with Comptroller Sean Scanlon and the Connecticut Health Foundation.
“Our state’s success relies on everyone being able to live their healthiest lives, and that includes being able to afford to get health care when they need it,” CHF President and CEO Tiffany Donelson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, too many families still face unaffordable health care costs.”
Gifford said the costs, including for insurance, are rising because of the price of healthcare. She said the main drivers on healthcare costs are prescription drugs and hospital visits.
OHS has been trying to address those costs, setting benchmark goals for increases and holding hearings to try and find the underlying drivers.
“We need to work collaboratively with those industries and with our colleagues in health insurance to tackle those rising costs,” Gifford said.
NBC Connecticut reached out to the co-chairs of the legislature’s Public Health and Insurance and Real Estate committees, but those lawmakers weren’t available for comment today.
Gifford said OHS plans to release recommendations later this fall, mainly focused on improving transparency for patients who want to know why their bills are so high.
According to Love Food, the best bowl of ramen in Connecticut isn’t tucked away in one of the state’s larger cities. Instead, you’ll have to make your way to Granby, where Tiger Belly Noodle Bar has earned national recognition for serving what the publication says is Connecticut’s top ramen.
If you’re expecting a massive menu with dozens of choices, that’s not what you’ll find here. Tiger Belly keeps things relatively simple, focusing on a handful of carefully crafted noodle dishes that have developed a loyal following. The standout, according to Love Food, is the restaurant’s aptly named Darkness Ramen.
This isn’t your average bowl of noodles. The star of the dish is a rich tonkotsu broth that’s simmered for more than 25 hours to develop its deep, savory flavor. It’s then topped with tender pork belly, enoki mushrooms, plenty of garlic, and finished with black garlic oil for an extra layer of richness. The result is a bowl that’s hearty, comforting, and packed with bold flavors.
Ramen has exploded in popularity across the United States over the past decade, with restaurants putting their own spin on the classic Japanese comfort food. Whether you prefer a traditional pork-based broth, spicy variations, seafood, or vegetarian options, there’s no shortage of great places to grab a bowl these days. But when it came to picking just one restaurant in Connecticut, Love Food says Tiger Belly Noodle Bar stands above the rest.
So, if you’re the type of person who’s willing to take a road trip for great food, Granby might deserve a spot on your list. A slow-simmered broth, fresh ingredients, and a little black garlic magic were apparently enough to earn this Connecticut restaurant some well-deserved national bragging rights.
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If you’re looking for the best barbecue restaurant in the state, you may have to drive to the state’s capital.
Business Insider identified the most beloved barbecue spot in each state, including Connecticut.
“Our list includes barbecue destinations with historical or regional significance and devoted national or local followings,” Business Insider said. “Many of the spots or their pitmasters have won major accolades, and some have appeared on mainstream TV shows.”
Business Insider’s choice for the most iconic place for barbecue in Connecticut is a specific location of a chain restaurant that has multiple stores in the Constitution State.
Here’s what Business Insider had to say about Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue, and why it might be worth the extra trip to Hartford, Connecticut.
Bear’s Smokehouse — Hartford, Connecticut
Business Insider said the Hartford location is the most iconic Bear’s Smokehouse in Connecticut. However, Bear’s has locations in Windsor, New Haven, South Windsor, and Storrs (although that one is in a University of Connecticut Student Union).
“Local outlet Hartford Courant named Bear’s Smokehouse the best ribs and best food truck in the state,” Business Insider said. “USA Today also named it one of the best restaurants in the country in 2026 (albeit, one of the North Carolina locations).”
Chain restaurant or not, this location’s menu appears to have all the goods that make a barbecue restaurant great: beef brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, and turkey breast, all done up in a Kansas-City style of barbecue that would make Ted Lasso proud.
They also offer some innovative takes on hearty dishes like poutine with Bear Style Poutine, which comes with fries, spicy cheese curds, brisket gravy, and your choice of meat.
You can find Bear’s Smokehouse at 25 Front St, Hartford, Connecticut.
They open at 11 a.m. on weekdays and weekends but their closing hours vary depending on the day.
Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@usatodayco.com.
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