In August, 2009, legal immigrants who have been in the United State for fewer than five years, also known as aliens with special status (AWSS), lost their eligibility for health insurance coverage under Commonwealth Care. The eligibility rules changed after state lawmakers, responding to radically reduced revenue collections, voted to eliminate the AWSS population from the Commonwealth Care program that they had been participating in under the state’s Medicaid waiver.  These spending cuts targeting the AWSS immigrants saved state dollars while avoiding sacrificing any of the federal funds that Massachusetts receives for Commonwealth Care. By October, the Patrick Administration had created the Commonwealth Care Bridge Program, a publicly-subsidized health insurance program with reduced benefits for AWSS no longer eligible for Commonwealth Care. The program is administered by CeltiCare and cost the state $40 million, approximately one-third of the cost to insure AWSS in Commonwealth Care.

In response to numerous questions and concerns about the Commonwealth Care Bridge Program by grantees who work with AWSS, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation hosted an informational discussion December 9, 2009 among grantees, government officials, health insurance executives, and consumer advocates. This report contains a summary of what was discussed at the gathering.