Connecticut

Connecticut Will Cancel $650 Million in Medical Debt

Published

2 years ago

February 4, 2024

Connecticut Will Cancel 0 Million in Medical Debt

Connecticut reportedly plans to cancel $650 million in medical debt for its residents.

This relief will impact around 250,000 people and will make Connecticut the first state in the country to undertake such an effort, CNN reported Friday (Feb. 2).

The goal is to free residents from “the cloud” over their heads and give them more freedom to buy a home, start a business or continue with their education, Gov. Ned Lamont told CNN.

“It’s a debt that you had no control over,” Lamont said. “It’s not like you overspent. You get hit by a healthcare calamity.”

According to the report, people whose medical debt equals 5% or more of their yearly income or whose household income is up to 400% of the federal poverty line — about $125,000 in 2024 — are eligible for the relief.

Qualified residents won’t need to apply, the report said, as they will get letters in the mail saying their debt has been eliminated, with those letters expected to go out as soon as this summer. The CNN report noted that more than 10% of Connecticut residents have medical debt in collections.

The program will use $6.5 million in COVID-19 funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act to cover the debt, working with a nonprofit group that purchases medical debt from hospitals and eliminates it for much lower than what the patient owed.

Connecticut’s efforts come at a time when many Americans are being pestered by collection agencies over their medical debt, in many cases for bills they don’t even owe, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), said last year.

The bureau said 15% of the complaints the bureau received in 2022 dealt with debt collectors trying to settle an allegedly unpaid medical bill.

“Tens of millions of people are pursued by debt collectors for medical bills, and today’s report highlights the problem of the collection of medical bills that are inaccurate or not owed,” the bureau said in a news release. “The CFPB has previously described the significant evidence, including reports from consumers themselves, that the collection, furnishing, and reporting of medical bills is plagued by inaccuracies.”

Meanwhile, research by PYMNTS Intelligence finds that a majority of consumers want more ease in paying the medical bills they do owe.

The report “Healthcare In The Digital Age: Consumers See Unified Platforms As Key To Better Health,” created in collaboration with Lynx, found that among the consumers who wanted a single digital platform to manage all of their healthcare activities, 79% wanted a feature that let them pay all types of medical bills.

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Connecticut

Two people shot in New Haven restaurant Saturday evening

Published

9 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Two people shot in New Haven restaurant Saturday evening

New Haven police say two people were shot at a restaurant on Grand Avenue Saturday evening.

One of the victims was a 22-year-old male from East Haven who was shot in the leg and was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for treatment.

According to police, the second victim was a 17-year-old male and arrived shortly after.

While on scene, police confirmed one of the possible shooters was still inside the restaurant.

According to police, the victims were both inside the restaurant when the teen was approached by Naguea Bratton and another suspect.

They say a fight occurred which resulted in both victims being shot.

Police detained Bratton who was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, two counts of illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine and larceny of a motor vehicle.

Bratton is being held on a $200,000 bond.

Both victims have non-life-threatening injuries police say.

They say additional arrests are expected to be completed by warrant.

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Connecticut

27 Wrestlers Named State Open Wrestling Champions In Connecticut Over Weekend; Xavier Dominates Tournament

Published

21 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

27 Wrestlers Named State Open Wrestling Champions In Connecticut Over Weekend; Xavier Dominates Tournament

Over the weekend, the two-day CIAC State Open wrestling championships took place at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, Connecticut.

Twenty-seven wrestlers (14 boys, 13 girls) were named champions in their respective weight classes, displaying intense wrestling featuring the best wrestlers across the state.

Championship bouts started around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday and lasted about two hours.

Below are the results from both the boys’ and girls’ state open championships.

106 lbs.: Xavier’s Josh Perez def. Stafford’s John Bean 17-2 (technical fall)

113 lbs.: Ridgefield’s Cole Desiano def. Suffield/Windsor Locks’ Peter Annis 8-0 (decision)

120 lbs.: Xavier’s Zack Dixon def. Somers’ Will Acorsi 12-0 (majority decision)

126 lbs.: Windham’s Delmazio Despard def. Xavier’s Alexander Depratti 4-3 (decision)

132 lbs.: Fairfield Warde’s Jude Grammatico def. Xavier’s Zaphyr Musshorn 2-1 (decision)

138 lbs.: Ledyard’s Lukas Boxley def. Terryville’s Ethan Bochman Rodriguez (pin)

144 lbs.: Xavier’s Braylon Gonzalez def. Ridgefield’s John Carrozza 3-1 (decision)

150 lbs.: Bristol Central’s Alex Lamarre def. Middletown’s Isaiah McDaniel 1-0 (decision)

157 lbs.: Newtown’s Antonio Arguello def. Notre Dame-West Haven’s Riley Storozuk 8-4 (decision)

165 lbs.: Gilbert/Torrington/Wolcott def. Trumbull’s Hubert Szymko 2-0 (decision)

175 lbs.: Xavier’s Vincent Rivera def. Fairfield Prep’s Jack Lilly 14-10 (decision)

190 lbs.: Xavier’s Chase Catalano def. Fairfield Warde’s Dylan O’Brien 2-1 (decision)

215 lbs.: Lyme-Old Lyme’s Taiyo Gemme def. Staples’ Julian Rousseau (pin)

285 lbs.: Shelton’s Chase Galke def. Ellington’s Jacob Palermo 3-0 (decision)

100 lbs.: South Windsor’s Sophia Gordon def. West Haven’s Isha Khanna (pin)

107 lbs.: RHAM’s Brooke Heffernan def. New Milford’s Clara Reynolds 9-2 (decision)

114 lbs.: Branford’s Ava Gambardella def. Jonathan Law’s Selena Batres 6-0 (decision)

120 lbs.: Trumbull’s Jillian Blake def. Fairfield Warde’s Monica Flores Romero 17-1 (technical fall)

126 lbs.: Ellis Tech’s Adelina Tate def. Fairfield Ludlowe’s Ashlynn Cummings (pin)

132 lbs: Amity’s Eliana Selaris def. Daniel Hand’s Evely Lavigne (pin)

138 lbs.: Stratford’s Winner Tshibombi def. Greenwich’s Gaby Aliaga 22-8 (majority decision)

145 lbs.: Stratford’s Gabriella Kiely def. New Milford’s Josephina Piel (pin)

152 lbs: Bunnell’s Matilda Tote def. Shelton’s Ella Piccirillo (pin)

165 lbs: Trumbull ‘s Marangelie Teixeira def. New Britain’s Kaydence Atkinson (pin)

185 lbs.: Platt’s Kayli Morris def. Bristol Central’s Shyann Bryan (pin)

235 lbs.: Norwalk’s Jeily Euceda def. Maloney’s Arianna Bellamy (pin)

Xavier High School (Middletown, CT) has been the most dominant wrestling program in the state in recent memory. Once again, they stole the show in the state opens, winning its fifth-straight state open title.

The Falcons had seven wrestlers compete out of the 14 state open titles in the boys’ division and had five winners with two runner-ups. As a team, they totaled 218.5 points, which was 72 more points than any other team.

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Connecticut

Pedestrian killed after being struck by Amtrak train

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Pedestrian killed after being struck by Amtrak train

An investigation is ongoing in Stonington after a person was fatally struck by an Amtrak train Saturday morning, according to Stonington police.

Police were notified around 11:25 a.m. by Amtrak police that a pedestrian was struck by a train between the Route 1 overpass and the Prospect Street and Palmer Street railroad crossing.

When crews arrived, they pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The train involved is stopped while Amtrak police conduct their investigation and ask the public to avoid the area at this time.

Authorities say there is no threat to the public.

No further details were released.

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