E-mails published on Sunday revealed that the Connecticut Social Services Commissioner had advised the Governor’s chief of staff against rushing ahead with the Charter Oak medical plan as early as June 4. The low cost medical plan which covers uninsured adults has come under some criticism of failing to garner an adequate network of providers.

The Charter Oak health insurance program has been designed by the state of Connecticut and seeks to provide affordable medical insurance to uninsured from low income families. The program started to accept applications from July 1, but records show that till now only one hospital from Connecticut has signed up. In the meantime, three private insurance companies which plan to provide coverage under Charter Oak plan have taken active measures to sign up more doctors and hospitals in an attempt to fill out the network of providers.

Even though state officials declared that over time around 19,000 medical providers are expected to sign up for the Charter Oak plan, reservations have been expressed in certain quarters. Some hospitals are hesitant to sign up as they fear the low reimbursement rates will lead to losses if they treat patients covered under the Charter Oak plan.

-Kalyani Mookherji