HMOs

The challenge: With 38.2 percent of its population enrolled in an HMO, Connecticut ranks third-highest in the nation. The six major HMOs in the state (Aetna Health, Anthem, CIGNA, ConnectiCare, Health Net and Oxford) place profits before care, charging increasingly higher premiums and denying more and more claims and authorizations for care.

The challenge: With 38.2 percent of its population enrolled in an HMO, Connecticut ranks third-highest in the nation. The six major HMOs in the state (Aetna Health, Anthem, CIGNA, ConnectiCare, Health Net and Oxford) have been charging increasingly higher premiums and denying more and more claims and authorizations for care.

What can you do:
The Connecticut Health Policy Project is working against HMOs' egregious policies and skyrocketing rates. Visit their Web site and contact them to learn more about what they're doing and how you can help.

• Start your own grassroots campaign. You can find great advice at Gotham Gazette and Connecticut Health Policy.

• Write to your state representatives. You can find their names and contact info by clicking here.

Read more about it:

• Here
• Here
• Here
• Here
• And here