Gov. Malloy's budget shifts $9 million in health programs to Connecticut insurance companies

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy wants Connecticut's insurers to pick up the tab for various health services, including breast and cervical cancer detection and venereal disease control.

The Democrat's proposed two-year, approximately $40 billion state budget shifts nearly $9 million in public health expenses to the state's Insurance Fund each year.

The account is funded by assessments of insurance companies operating in the state.

Kevin Kelly is the ranking Republican senator on the legislature's insurance committee. He says the proposal is unfair to consumers because it ultimately buries the cost of the services in higher health insurance rates.

Malloy budget chief Ben Barnes says it's a difficult budget year and the proposal helps protect important services. He says insurers benefit from people having these services.