About us

two woman in an office going over paper work

For 25 years, the Office of the Healthcare Advocate has helped Connecticut residents understand their health insurance options, resolve disputes with insurance companies, and access necessary healthcare services.

Established by the Connecticut General Assembly, we serve as your independent advocate in the complex healthcare system. Our independence ensures we can effectively represent your interests when dealing with insurance companies and healthcare providers.


Mission

The mission of the Office of Healthcare Advocate (OHA) is to assist consumers with healthcare issues through the establishment of effective outreach programs and the development of communications related to consumer rights and responsibilities as members of healthcare plans. Our services are available to all Connecticut residents free of charge, regardless of insurance status.


Leadership

Kathleen Holt

Healthcare Advocate Kathleen Holt

Kathy has experience in health insurance, health delivery systems, health law, and patient-consumer advocacy.  She began her career working with Cigna insurance company in Bloomfield, CT where she developed insurance claim process improvement strategies. After earning a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management from the University of Connecticut, she helped protect patient rights and expand patient services as a hospital administrator, first at New Britain Memorial Hospital and then at Northwest Hospital in Seattle, Washington.

Upon obtaining her law degree from Seattle University School of Law, Kathy became a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Seattle. Following the birth of her second child who was born with significant disabilities, Holt founded a Seattle-area law practice to advocate for the needs of older people and people who have disabilities. She led this practice until she returned to CT in 2014 as the associate director and attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy, where she helped Medicare beneficiaries and represented patient voices in federal and state policy conversations prior to arriving at the Office of the Healthcare Advocate. In addition to her professional work, Kathy volunteers her time with several organizations, including as a member of the board of directors for Team Gleason, an organization that advocates for people living with ALS; as a commissioner for the Mansfield Housing Authority, which assists low and moderate-income families with safe, decent, and affordable housing; and as a public member of the Connecticut Teacher’s Retirement Board.

OHA acting healthcare advocate Sean King

General Counsel Sean King

Mr. King is a seasoned lawyer with years at the agency and is an expert in his own right on all matters of healthcare insurance at the federal and state level and is intimately involved in legislation that can positively affect Connecticut families. 

We Can Help You With:

  • Healthcare insurance enrollment, coverage, and billing questions
  • Claim denials or preauthorization issues
  • Explanations regarding a healthcare benefit, program, or coverage
  • Understanding your rights and responsibilities as a healthcare plan member
  • Your healthcare plan’s internal and external appeals processes

Get Help Now

Testimonial

 

A Connecticut consumer obtained a gap exception to see an out of network midwife for her pregnancy and at home birth of her child. The preauthorization she received from her healthcare insurance provider was only for 6 months of a 9-month pregnancy. That meant she had to request another gap exception for the last three months of her pregnancy.  It was denied, and the consumer was told she'd have to go to an in-network midwife, 49 miles from her home.  OHA filed an internal appeal, which resulted in the insurance company overturning their denial. 
Savings: $33,000.00 to the consumer.

Office of the Healthcare Advocate

Address:
153 Market Street
Hartford, CT 06103

Phone: 866-466-4446 (toll-free)
Fax: 860-331-2499
Email: Healthcare.Advocate@ct.gov