November 20, 2007

Honorable Thomas R. Sullivan
Commissioner of Insurance
State of Connecticut
P.O. Box 816
Hartford, Connecticut 06142-0816

Dear Commissioner Sullivan:

On behalf of the member towns and cities of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, I respectfully request that you rescind your decisions to (1) request reconsideration of Attorney General Blumenthal’s Opinion 2007-012 concerning the legality of operating a risk-pooled, self-funded municipal health care program and (2) issue a letter that has the effect of prohibiting licensed carriers from responding to the Request For Proposals issued by Comptroller Nancy Wyman for such a program.

As you know, towns and cities are struggling with the high costs of providing health insurance to their employees. In order to keep their coverage affordable they have, among other things, negotiated changes to plans that reduce employee benefits, switched carriers and more.

But municipalities can only do so much on their own. The prices of coverage in the private insurance market continue to rise. Comptroller Wyman’s plan holds out the promise of providing needed choice in the marketplace, significant savings for local property taxpayers and excellent health benefits for municipal employees.

Nobody knows the extent to which the Comptroller’s plan will save money for the property taxpayers of Connecticut. But her proposal, found legal by the Attorney General of the State, is an attempt to help local governments, their property taxpayers and their employees.

Thank you for your consideration of our request.

Sincerely,

James J. Finley, Jr.
Executive Director & CEO