News you can use from CT Insurance Exchange Newington CT

What is the 'Healthy Homes Fund Surcharge'?

12/28/2018

Beginning in January 1, 2019, Connecticut homeowners will see a $12 increase in their homeowner's policy. The Healthy Homes Fund Surcharge was passed by the Connecticut Legislature (CT HB05209) to raise as much as $100 million in the next 10 years mainly to assist Connecticut homeowners with crumbling foundations. The legislation is set to expire on December 31, 2029.

The surcharge is not a premium and applies to policies on residential dwellings with four or fewer units and on condominiums. Renters policies are exempt.

The bulk of the money collected in the Healthy Homes Fund Surcharge will be used for grants-in-aid to homeowners with homes located in the immediate vicinity of the West River in the Westville section of New Haven and Woodbridge for structurally damaged homes due to subsidence and to homeowners with homes abutting the Yale Golf Course in the Westville section of New Haven for damage to such homes from water infiltration or structural damage due to subsidence. The fund will also go toward programs designed to reduce health and safety hazards in residential dwellings in Connecticut such as lead, radon and other contaminants or conditions and pay for the removal, remediation, abatement of these contaminants.

57 Comments

Bruce chamberlain

1/19/2019 03:52:36 pm

The bulk of the money will go towards the crumbling foundations in eastern ct.

mike green

1/5/2020 09:46:11 pm

Let the owners of those homes deal with it from their own pockets, or hire contingency based lawyers (of which there are many of) to litigate the matters in court and recover monetary damages from parties responsible for it. If there are no liable parties then tough on those homeowners. Why am I forced to be 'my brothers keeper'? I've got plenty of things in my own family life that I need to spend MY money on. Sure as hell don't need politicians passing laws like these that FORCE the taking on my money. Dems in this part of the US are just insane with their power greed.

Dee

9/29/2020 11:33:31 am

Are you really that selfish and really bothered by $12 that actually goes to help your fellow Americans? its $1 a month. that's enough to affect your finances? I understand the being forced to do it is not cool but its for fellow Citizens going through a tough time. If their insurance takes care of it, you and I will see greater than $12 increase in our policy. you are very shortsighted and did I say selfish?

Mark

10/30/2020 04:43:11 am

It’s not greed! The $12 cost is small but what next and how much! Let the far left robbers get a Fed Grant to fix these foundations not expecting the homeowners of Ct to pay for faulty workmanship.
They going up on auto insurance when they manufacture a bad car next?

Jim link

12/21/2020 05:08:59 pm

If you want to spend your money on helping someone, that is very kind and admirable. But in my opinion, forcing other people to spend their money to help someone is similar to robbing them and giving their things away. Selling a home in an area that will have inevitable water damage is tough, which is why they would have to lower the price of the home. They can use that savings to repair their houses, not my savings.

Bob Stone

1/16/2021 08:17:48 pm

Dee. It’s the principle. $12 or $120 it doesn’t matter. Why do I have to pay for terrible construction work, done by people who cut corners. Better yet you pay for it then!

Annaga

2/21/2021 11:17:38 am

Mike Green - Amen! Well said!

frustrated

3/4/2021 12:11:44 pm

Hi Dee, A different perspective. The people who bought the properties likely got them at lower than market value (wonder how many of them might be politicians, or friends/relatives of politicians), and now are expecting us to bring up the property value. And even if not and why should we be expected to pay for their judgement. No one is reimbursing me for decisions I have made in the past - I own the good and the bad of my decisions. With respect to being to selfish to help, we donate much to charities - but those are OUR choices, not something some far removed politician decides in order to benefit themselves. It's very easy to spend other peoples money. Finally between the surcharge being removed after all the needed issues have been "resolved" or increasing the rate for an expanding "need" - I know where I bet the house (including my Healthy Homes tax).

CARA WOODS

5/8/2019 11:15:22 am

A question came up that we could not answer to one of our customers who paid the $12. What happens if they sell their current home that was charged the $12 and then buy a new home. The new home requires a new insurance policy and the insured, within 12 months would have had to pay $24?? How is that money refunded to the Insured?? or are they required to pay a second time and why?

C R link

5/30/2019 08:17:30 pm

If the state is paying to help these individuals why are we being charged. I believe we are paying to help the individuals not the state. one more reason to leave the state of Connecticut also what companies are not participating ?

Jake

9/3/2019 04:18:55 pm

Of course dwellings over four units are exempt. This means as usual the rich don't pay just the little guy. One of those politician deals again you can thank Danang Dick

Tom M

12/31/2019 09:02:08 am

Because this is the People’s Republic of Connecticut run by left wing lunatics who managed to put a two-horse State into billions of $ of debt

Mary Ellen Procko

6/22/2019 06:43:42 am

I understand the cost of crumbling foundations and I am sorry that the homeowners are going through the angst of dealing with this problem, but why do ALL homeowners in CT have to foot the bill! Where is the Insurance industry's responsibility for reparations....that is why owners have insurance!

Katy

8/21/2020 01:11:55 pm

Foundations used to be covered by insurance companies in the State of Connecticut. However, when the issue arose with the bad mixture of cement causing foundations to crumble in Eastern CT, Dick Blumenthal met with the insurance companies and allowed them to exclude this coverage from homeowners policies. Homeowners who bought these houses have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in equity. I hope that all of you complaining about the $12 fee will vote Republican.

Anna Fanotto

8/21/2020 02:40:39 pm

One of many new charges because of Blumenthal. Research Eversource as well and you will learn of his involvement with rate increases.

Pete

10/28/2020 11:52:03 am

I certainly will vote Republican. Tis state is being ruined by one-party rule.

JW buchanan link

1/20/2021 04:07:08 pm

I understand,that this cement ,for foundations,came from China. Another way of ripping the Ct people ,that can't afford it.Thank you Mr BLumenthal. My freaking insurance is higher enough.we live in a Co-op 2 unit first floor.built in 1943 strong brick. Why the hell, do I have to pay $12? Bad enough we have to pay other taxes. Give me a break!

Melanie

6/22/2019 11:01:03 am

Hi Mary Ellen. This is something the CT legislature proposed and voted into law.
As citizens, we need to make ourselves more aware of what our elected politicians are doing. If there is an issue you don't agree with, make sure you contact your representative.
In general, I don't believe in enabling — a hand up is better than a hand out. However, in this instance, many people were effected and had little recourse for remedy.
My concern is that the money raised by this surcharge would *actually* be used for its intended and not be put into some slush fund to be squandered as usual by politicians.

6/22/2019 11:09:24 am

*affected

MARIE

6/24/2019 11:42:45 am

I like to know, as a renter in an apartment , that i have to pay the $12.00.. I never owned a home, Please get back to me ASAP....

6/24/2019 11:52:35 am

Hi Marie, This applies only to homeowners — renters are exempt.

MARIE DALESIO

6/26/2019 07:01:10 pm

Thank you so much . Im being charged, and I have my district rep looking into this for me...someone is trying to make money off this then... I appreciate ....

Anna

1/26/2020 10:24:15 am

All added expenses to a landlord must eventually lead to a rent increase. It does effect renters in the long run. High taxes, increases in utilities such as water and sewer, and many more factors must be analyzed when considering rental increases.

marie

6/26/2019 07:03:23 pm

Oh no, I put my last name , on the last post, I woner if you can take my last name down . thank you Melanie

Mona

7/22/2019 06:12:08 pm

Why are home owners paying for this why isn’t the person or persons completing the work responsible for remedying this issue. Here we are again paying for someone’s failure to give people the quality of work they pay for. In this day and age most people are having difficulty with their own bills nevertheless we are paying for someone’s bills other than ourselves ridiculous

7/25/2019 04:00:01 pm

In theory, if the contractors who poured these foundations were still in business and carried Completed Operations coverage, then their policy would cover homeowner(s) up to the limits of the policy. In many of these cases, however, the contractor(s) either went out of business long before the problem surfaced or claimed bankruptcy, so homeowners had no remedy.
The Department of Economic and Community Development has up to 1 million dollars to be used for grants-in-aid to certain homeowners.
In general, I do not like to be "legislated" into helping someone. However, paying $12 per policy for 10 years is not asking a lot to help desperate people in need.

Jodie link

8/12/2019 09:19:42 am

Is this $12 tax deductible? It sounds more like a mandatory donation for grants.

Ct. Homeowner

9/11/2019 02:11:46 am

I feel this charge is not fair...if you want to make it optional so each homeowner has the choice to contribute that's fine...
contractors and homebuyers should purchase their own insurance to cover these unforeseen circumstances...
Instead of slapping this bill onto everyone with a home ...why not charge every man, woman and child in ct instead.

9/11/2019 09:44:56 pm

Just another misuse of government in this state. My taxes aren’t enough to pay for this situation because of all the free services given to many not even entitled. Time for the free spending you politicians continue to do to stop! Then you have the nerve to tax my policy for something I was never responsible for! Why weren’t these concrete companies ever bonded and insurance responsible for these homes with crumbling foundations. This is just a tip of the iceberg folks! Run, don’t walk to get out of this socialist state!!! 😡

Darlene Picone

9/17/2019 10:24:11 am

I have Vermiculite in my attic. Price to just remove will be 17,00.00. I also have a old cinderblock basement that leaks, cost of repair will be around 14,000.00. Where can i get help.

9/18/2019 10:50:08 am

Hi Darlene. Start by contacting your homeowner's insurance agent. They can provide you with information about your policy and situation.

Rita

10/23/2019 10:49:14 am

the insurance agent did not even know what this fee was for. He just told me that it was a tax from the State of Connecticut.

Franc Taylor

10/8/2019 02:41:11 pm

Even if the contractor and or concrete company that made foundations and concrete are out of business, the cost for fixing this issue should be levied on concrete companies and foundation contractors doing business in this state as a surtax on them. That will make the industry police itself. What about building inspectors. The land and concrete mix could not have been checked before the foundation was poured? I have always questioned doing local building inspection, because the inspector works for the town that gains tax revenue if the house is built. The inspector has a conflict of interest. That’s what happen at my house, the soil is clay, but the town did not require ribar in the cement cylinders holding up the carports. So the carports start falling and the cylinders have to be replaced with reinforced ones later.The towns should be also held accountable based on inspection liability.

Jay

10/19/2019 07:31:33 am

We shouldn't have to pay for other people's homes. You going to pay my mortgage? I work to dam hard for what I have. Keep your grubby freakin hands out of my wallet, pockets and bank. You are all a bunch of lying thieves and should be thrown in prison. Better yet donate your pension and part of your career politician salaries. Bunch of thugs. We need you OUT OF OFFICE. When were YOU going to notified US about this fee by which you mean another form of tax. Also another fee on our license for parks and beaches. Tax tax tax tax. If this is there solution get them out of office. Call your constituents. Fill the switch boards make that telephone board burn up. Raise your hand up and run them OUT NOW.

10/23/2019 10:51:12 am

It would have been nice to notify the insured people about this charity.
We are paying for something other than our own home insurance.
Shame on our politicians.

lisa

12/2/2019 03:21:05 pm

Don't we get taxed and slapped with fee after fee enough???
Maybe learn to cut your spending just like we have to live on a budget.
At the end of the day, its not just $12 Melanie. Do some homework on all the fees that are passed on to residents of Ct (State and Town!) and let us know again WHY we are responsible for the irresponsibility of others.

Ron

12/31/2019 08:01:58 pm

It's called forced socialism. Another way of governing by un-American politicians. If it gets challenged in court, a just judge would throw it out as unconstitutional. Making certain homeowners in CT pay for certain homeowner's woes in New Haven is like a page out of the Karl Marx communist manifesto.

12/2/2019 03:33:50 pm

Believe me, we get it!

Don't shoot the messenger :)

Amy DeMent

12/27/2019 01:32:08 am

Thanks Melanie, for all you are doing to answer questions about this situation. Although I am pissed about this situation in principle, it's not your fault. You're right; $12/year for 10 years isn't hideous...but then again, if you have a house abutting the Yale Golf Course, I'm pretty sure you have more money than I, here in my little 840 square foot house.

12/27/2019 09:18:32 am

Thank you, Amy.

This is why it's important to know the issues and positions elected officials take and vote accordingly.

Mrs. Wilson Ellis

12/6/2019 09:53:17 am

Point of clarification, if I am having foundation issues and I do not live in the one of the New Haven/Woodbridge neighborhoods specified in the legislation I cannot apply for assistance? However, I am required to pay the $12? Where can we find the list of the people who voted in favor of this?

12/6/2019 10:15:48 am

Click on the link in the article (CT HB05209). It will take you to the details of the enactment. Click on "votes" in the top tab to see how legislators voted.

Desreen

12/31/2019 02:04:18 pm

I am a retired, I can't afford my bills much more extras, I am being penalized for living in Connecticut? There must be a better way. I am not happy about this.

12/31/2019 08:42:35 pm

The voting residents of CT are also to be blamed. This is what you get when you elect the Democrat socialism mentality into office. Not one Democrat in the House voted against this. Take from Mary and Joe, via the trick of an insurance surcharge without their consent, to pay for something else. https://legiscan.com/CT/votes/HB05209/2018

Karen

1/24/2020 02:29:57 pm

Voters will you stop voting the Dems in?? What is wrong with all of you? We just found out about this charge and we're pissed. It's all too late now. 10 yrs we'll be paying? I bet it never goes away. That's the way it works in this State. Who's watching this money and where it actually goes? This state is so corrupt. VOTERS PLEASE VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT!!!!!!!! Look and see who your reps are and see how they voted. I did and so can you.https://legiscan.com/CT/rollcall/HB05209/id/751677 https://legiscan.com/CT/rollcall/HB05209/id/749511

HenryCT

1/24/2020 03:24:06 pm

My car and home insurance went up yet again despite the fact that I have not been in an accident or made any claims for decades for either car or home. I am paying more insurance because other people have been in car accidents or have had home losses. I'm not happy to have to shell out more money. But that is the nature of insurance - we help each other. Of course you have the right to cancel your insurance. Then you won't be paying into a fund to provide for those who have losses. I'm happy not to have had an accident or a home loss. That would be worse than an annual $12. I pay health care insurance and am happy not to be sick or injured. As long as I'm healthy I'm paying so others, who are not healthy for a variety of reasons, aren't refused health care or bankrupted with medical bills. That's the nature of insurance. The fact is that this $12 surcharge is transparently disclosed. It also helps abate contaminants like radon and lead. Why not demand your insurance company tell you the instances that caused the rest of your home or car insurance coverage to have gone up? I did. Why not ask your insurance company to tell you how much you are paying to increase their executive pay? Or how much they spend lobbying to increase their profits? Or their stockholders' profits? That kind of transparency they oppose.

Rep Patricia Dillon

2/1/2020 02:31:05 pm

This information is false and should be corrected immediately. Most of the surcharge will save possibly 35,000 homes in eastern Connecticut, not Westville. Limited funds for Westville, totaling $1 million, are one time. Link and map here:
https://portal.ct.gov/DOH/DOH/Programs/Crumbling-Foundations

frank Shaknaitis

10/27/2020 12:00:06 pm

I really don't mind the $12.00. What I do fear is that now the state has found another way to tax homeowners and how long will it be before the twelve dollars gets changed to twenty dollars and so on and so on?

Tom K Wallingford

2/10/2020 10:22:59 am

I just discovered this new charge on my homeowners renewal. My biggest issue with this is that nobody in this state should have any confidence that our politicians will leave this money alone and use it only as intended. Furthermore as stated in a previous comment, We've also learned that once a new charge ( tax,fee,or whatever you want to call it) is put in place, it never comes off the books. Anot her example of our politicians lack of respect for the intelligence of those who ( mistakenly ) elected them

Werdna Rallim

4/30/2020 11:28:26 am

Outrageous. Write your state rep and senator asking them to repeal this.

Nallim link

4/30/2020 01:43:06 pm

Flood the email box of Rep Patricia Dillon who defends this grab above.
Let her know the public strenuously objects. Patricia.Dillon@cga.ct.gov

ct homeowner

6/15/2020 07:51:49 am

Wonder if this money has caused this increase in home values...

https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/06511_leads_state_in_rising_home_values/

6/15/2020 09:21:46 am

As I wrote to you, no one in zip 06511 benefits from this program, which by the way began after the 2004-15 dates in that article.. The narrative on this site that singles out New Haven is false and should have been deleted. In fact as I posted Feb 1, Republican towns in eastern Connecticut that faced a collapse of their grand lists are the beneficiaries. 06511 is subsidizing them, not benefiting.

Eric

9/2/2020 02:30:13 pm

I absolutely can't wait to leave Connecticut and take my tax dollars to the South!!! CT is a corrupt state to the bone. In addition to constant dollar grabs left and right, you aren't even permitted to purchase an all electric car (Tesla) in CT because our lawmakers are influenced by BIG AUTO and BIG OIL and all the predatory unnecessary "dealerships".

BOBBCEE link

9/9/2020 02:13:46 pm

I became curious upon reciept of my HO renewal today. I share the sentiments of those that became aware of this slight of hand much earlier and wonder about the law's legality given the small number of special interest beneficiaries. I was especially disappointed in the extremely weak Sunset provision at the end of the 10 year period.

John Cerovsky

2/15/2021 07:49:35 pm

Folks of Connecticut , you should not be surprised. The money collected without your choice will probably benefit some families but the remainder will get swallowed by the general fund. Thus providing the swollen raises state officials get when you poor working people that work for corporate in CT are suffering with diminishing funds.

Breeze

2/16/2021 12:13:29 pm

Ya...I just realized this surcharge on my homeowner's renewal. I am fuming.. for all the stated reasons by folks above. I care that people have hardships but this fund is sneaky. You pay all the costs Ed.

NEWS you can use

What is the 'Healthy Homes Fund Surcharge'?

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