Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut

Grants to Engage New Voices in Health Advocacy
In 2019, the foundation awarded and paid out $60,000 in grants.
One of the goals of our strategic plan is to support organizations and strategic alliances that amplify the voices of everyday people and engage marginalized communities in advocacy on the health care issues that impact them most. We use grants to build a diverse, vibrant and strong field of advocates for meaningful change. In 2019, we funded a group of organizations to help design a funding strategy in 2020. It will strengthen grassroots advocacy and activism on health care over the next several years.
We’re excited to work with:
• Bridgeport Generation Now
• Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs
• Connecticut Students for a Dream
• Katal Center for Health, Equity and Justice
• Minority Inclusion Project
• Naugatuck Valley Project
• Full Citizen’s Coalition to Unlock the Vote

Each of these organizations received a $5,000 grant. They will work with us in a process facilitated by Everyday Democracy, a national nonprofit based in Connecticut that supports organizing by helping people create the spaces and build skills to air difficult topics and address them effectively over the long term. With a $25,000 grant from the foundation, Everyday Democracy will also develop a health care “Dialogue for Change” toolkit for use in communities.

Stay tuned to learn more about this innovative approach to strategic grantmaking!
Partner Spotlight: Connecticut Office of Health Strategy (OHS)
For years, Universal Health Care has been advocating for state government to take measures that make health care prices more affordable to average Connecticut consumers. In 2019, we joined forces with the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy, the Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) and the Connecticut Health Foundation to develop the first “Health Care Affordability Modeling Tool” in the nation. A $30,000 grant Universal Health Care awarded in late 2018 supports the stakeholder input process.
The tool will help decisionmakers and advocates assess how different health care policies impact residents’ ability to manage their health care premiums, deductibles and co-pays without sacrificing other basic needs or falling into debilitating debt. A calculator considers factors including health risk status, family composition, income and geography.
OHS and OSC are working on this innovative policy tool with the University of Washington and the Analytics Information Management System (AIMS) group at the University of Connecticut. The tool is expected to be ready for use in 2020.

Partnerships Come in Many Forms
Our success is built on partnership with like-minded organizations and individuals. We convene old and new partners to identify action priorities and winning strategies.
Our work was bolstered by a crucial partnership with United States of Care, a broad-based progressive national coalition. US of Care provided technical support and strategic guidance to the Foundation, legislative leaders and the State Comptroller’s office during the effort to pass the public option. Their team coordinated focus groups in Connecticut where small business owners shared their frustration with the high cost and poor coverage options available in our small group health insurance market. Evenly representative of democrats, republicans and independents, across affiliations, participants expressed strong support for a public option. We look forward to continued work with US of Care in 2020 and beyond.
Universal Health Care means EVERYBODY. Connecticut is home to 102,000 immigrants, 52,000 of whom have no health coverage despite working hard and paying taxes. They cannot sign up to buy insurance on the exchange, Access Health CT. They do not have access to Medicaid/HUSKY. Most are not offered coverage by employers. Even those who try to buy coverage in the private market face unnecessary barriers. Last year, we joined forces with CT Immigrant Rights Alliance and CT Students for a Dream to fight against this unfairness, help improve lives and provide peace of mind to immigrant families.
We partner with others in numerous ways, including as donors. Last year, many of you generously contributed of your time and treasure to achieving these results.