The email is sitting in my inbox like a countdown clock: $5,000 due to secure my surgery date. Another $7,000 required on the day of the procedure. Before even getting there, I had already paid $800 just for a consultation and thousands more from emergency room visits, trying to manage the pain.

As a college student in a single-parent household, these costs are not just overwhelming; they are destabilizing. For my family, this isn’t just a medical decision; it’s a financial crisis that affects bills, groceries, and basic stability. 

This isn’t an unusual story; it’s what accessing healthcare looks like for too many people in Connecticut today. When the cost of care becomes this overwhelming, patients are forced to make impossible choices: delay treatment, go into debt, or simply go without. 

This is why Connecticut lawmakers must pass SB3: An Act Concerning Health Care Affordability. The bill directly addresses one of the most urgent public health issues in our state: the rising cost of healthcare and the barriers it creates for everyday citizens. SB3 is not just a general attempt to “lower costs.” It proposes specific, actionable solutions.

The bill would establish a Connecticut Affordable Health Care Trust Fund to stabilize costs and protect residents from rising premiums, particularly as federal subsidies become uncertain. It also includes a “Connecticut Option” program designed to expand access to more affordable insurance coverage and, in the short term, replace federal premium subsidies for many residents earning up to 600% of the federal poverty level. 

Healthcare affordability is not just an economic issue; it is a public health crisis. According to a report from theKaiser Family Foundation, nearly half of U.S. adults report difficulty affording healthcare, and many delay or skip necessary services as a result. These delays can lead to worsening conditions, more emergency visits, and higher long-term costs for both patients and the healthcare system. In my case, postponing treatment for endometriosis only led to repeated ER visits, each one adding to the financial and physical burden.  

Ella Nocera-DeJulio

Connecticut is not immune to these trends. Reports show that residents across the state, especially those with low and moderate incomes, struggle with high premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs. Even those with insurance often face significant financial barriers when seeking care. This reality contradicts the very purpose of a healthcare system: to provide timely, effective treatment without causing financial harm.

Some critics argue that bills like SB3 could increase government spending or place additional strain on healthcare providers. Others question whether it goes far enough, pointing out gaps in coverage, such as limited inclusion of certain populations. These concerns deserve attention, but they do not outweigh the urgency of the problem. In fact, SB3 is designed as both a short-term solution to stabilize costs and a long-term framework to explore broader reforms.

Passing SB3 would help more than just individual patients. When people can afford regular checkups and early treatment, long-term illnesses are easier to manage, fewer people end up in the emergency room, and healthcare costs go down overall. This leads to healthier communities and a better-functioning healthcare system. In simpler terms, making healthcare more affordable isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s also a smart decision.

My experience is just one example, but it reflects a much larger issue affecting communities across Connecticut. No one should have to delay a necessary surgery or accumulate thousands of dollars in debt just to receive basic medical care. Healthcare shouldn’t be something only available to people who can afford it, but a basic right supported by strong and effective policies.

Connecticut has a real chance to fix a system that is clearly not working for many people. Passing SB3 would help lower costs and make it easier for residents to get the care they need without financial stress. It’s time for lawmakers to take action and make healthcare more affordable and accessible for everyone. 

Ella Nocera-DeJulio is a sophomore at Sacred Heart University, majoring in Health Sciences, concentrating in Occupational Therapy.

SANFORD – Anne Theresa Tarling, 74, of Sanford, Maine passed away peacefully at home on April 23, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing she lived a full and beautiful life rooted in love, creativity, and devotion to the people who meant the most to her.

Anne was born on April 3, 1952, in Portland, Maine, to the late Joseph and Blanche Morin. She grew up in Portland and graduated from Deering High School in 1970.

In 1980, Anne married the love of her life, Ernest Tarling. Together they built a life centered on family, laughter, and partnership. Their 45 years of marriage were filled with shared memories and a deep commitment to one another and to their family.

Anne was a talented self-taught artist who found great joy in painting and sharing her creativity with others. She proudly exhibited her work at local art shows and specialty shops, and her paintings found their way into homes near and far. Her art brought beauty and comfort to many and will continue to remind us of her for years to come.

She also enjoyed gardening, sailing the coast of Maine, and hosting family gatherings. She was known for her famous chocolate chip cookies and for never missing a birthday or special occasion.

Being a devoted Nana brought her great joy, and she cherished time spent with her family above all else.

In addition to her parents, Anne was preceded in death by her brother, Stephen Morin; her sister, Julie Pochebit, her brother-in-law, Daniel Desmond; nieces Elizabeth McKee and Alison Pochebit.

She is survived by her brother, Paul (Sue Ellen) Morin, two sisters, Cheryl Desmond and Celine (Stephen) Pochebit; her husband of 45 years, Ernest Tarling; her son, Greg (Karen) Flagg, her four daughters, Jennifer Copper, Rebecca (Frank) Zavadil, Stefenie (Matthew) Burdick, and Kendra (Justin) Dowling; her 11 grandchildren, Cody, Matthew, Jackson, Gracey, Lucas, Quinn, Beau, Shea, Ellie, Will, and Stevie; a large extended family, including many loving nieces and nephews; and her longtime best friend, Sandy Hobbs.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 2, at 11 a.m. at St. Martha Church, 30 Portland Road, Kennebunk, Maine, followed by a celebration of life at 12:30 p.m. at For the Love of Food + Drink at Saltwater Farm, 411 Post Road, Wells, Maine.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Anne’s Book of Memories Page at http://www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043.