HUSKY C is Connecticut’s Medicaid program for residents who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. It provides health coverage with strict income and asset limits, and it’s one of four HUSKY Health programs the state offers. If you or a family member falls into one of those categories, here’s what you need to know about qualifying, what’s covered, and how to apply.
Who Qualifies for HUSKY C
To be eligible, you must be a Connecticut resident and meet at least one of these criteria: you’re 65 years of age or older, you’re legally blind, or you have a qualifying disability. Beyond that, your income and assets must fall below specific thresholds.
The current income limits are $851 per month for a single person and $1,153 per month for a married couple. Asset limits are equally tight: $1,600 for an individual and $2,400 for a couple. These figures are checked during your application and reviewed periodically.
The Spend-Down Option for Higher Incomes
If your income exceeds the limit but you have significant medical expenses, you may still qualify through a process called “spend-down.” This works like a deductible. The state calculates how much your income exceeds the program limit over a six-month period, then lets you subtract your medical bills from that excess amount. Once your remaining excess hits zero, you become eligible for coverage from that point through the end of the six-month period.
The bills you use must be ones you’re personally responsible for paying. Insurance-covered portions don’t count, though you can deduct the cost of the insurance premiums themselves. Importantly, spend-down only works if income is your sole barrier to eligibility. If your assets are also too high, you’d need to reduce those first before the spend-down process can begin.
The state also looks back up to three months before your application date (the “retroactive period”), calculating income separately for each of those months. At the end of each six-month cycle, your eligibility is reviewed again to determine whether you still need spend-down or if you now qualify outright.
What HUSKY C Covers
HUSKY C provides comprehensive medical coverage, though all services must be medically necessary and delivered by providers in Connecticut’s Medicaid network (called the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program, or CMAP). The benefit package is broad and includes several categories worth highlighting.
Prescription drugs are covered, including insulin for all ages. Some prescriptions require prior authorization. Over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements can also be covered, but you’ll need a prescription from your provider even for those items.
Medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, sleep apnea devices, and breast pumps is covered when medically necessary and prescribed. Diabetic supplies, including blood glucose monitors, test strips, and lancets, fall under both the pharmacy and medical equipment benefits depending on your age.
Dental care is available through a separate network called the Dental Health Partnership. Behavioral health services, covering both mental health and substance use treatment, are managed through the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership.
Additional covered services include acupuncture (when medically necessary), chiropractic care (limited to spinal manipulations), home health care and skilled nursing visits, and emergency ambulance transport. Chiropractic coverage for adults 21 and older is restricted to certain spinal diagnoses.
One important limitation: out-of-state care is generally not covered unless the visit is medically necessary and the provider enrolls in the HUSKY Health network. Emergency services received outside the United States or its territories are not covered at all.
Cost Sharing Under HUSKY C
Unlike HUSKY B, which requires monthly premiums and co-payments for members in certain income bands, HUSKY C does not appear to impose similar cost-sharing requirements. Connecticut’s official benefit overview lists cost-sharing obligations for HUSKY B but not for HUSKY C, meaning most beneficiaries pay nothing out of pocket for covered services.
How HUSKY C Fits Into the HUSKY Health System
Connecticut organizes its Medicaid programs under the HUSKY Health umbrella. HUSKY A covers children, parents, and pregnant women. HUSKY B is for children in families with slightly higher incomes. HUSKY D serves low-income adults ages 19 to 64 who don’t qualify under the other programs. HUSKY C is the only one specifically designed for older adults and people with disabilities, and it carries the strictest financial eligibility requirements of the group.
How to Apply
The fastest route is applying online through Connecticut’s benefits portal at connect.ct.gov. You can also submit a paper application using the W-1E form or apply in person at a Department of Social Services field office, though in-person visits may involve a wait.
If you’re applying specifically for long-term services and supports, such as nursing home care or home and community-based care, there’s a separate application (the W-1LTSS form, also available in Spanish). These application packets should include as much supporting documentation as possible and be mailed directly to the appropriate Long-Term Services and Supports Application Center listed on the form.