CT WORKERS WITH SERIOUS HEART CONDITIONS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAID LEAVE
February is American Heart Month
Hartford CT — Connecticut’s Paid Leave Authority today reminded workers that paid leave benefits are available for eligible individuals who experience a serious health condition, including individuals with certain chronic heart conditions. A serious health condition is an illness, injury or impairment or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care or continuing treatment. Chronic conditions requiring treatment refers to any period of incapacity due to or treatment for a chronic serious health condition which requires periodic visits for treatments by a healthcare provider at least 2 times per year and recurs over an extended period of time. It may cause episodic rather than a continuing period of incapacity.
In 2021, heart disease accounted for 10.6% of all Connecticut resident inpatient hospitalizations and stroke accounted for 2.7%. According to the CT Department of Public Health, in 2021 an estimated 7.0% of Connecticut adults (age 18 years or older) — or 198,000 adults — had been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke, heart attack, or coronary heart disease. In 2019, heart disease was the first-listed diagnosis for 36,217 hospitalizations, or about 11% of all inpatient hospitalizations.
“Cardiovascular diseases affect many Connecticut adults,” said Erin Choquette, CEO of the CT Paid Leave Authority. “Getting good care and staying on top of your medications, diet and exercise can make all the difference. Paid leave makes it possible for individuals with chronic heart conditions to take time off to seek treatment without the burden of lost income.”
“Although I am relatively young, I was experiencing mini strokes and after some tests my physician discovered that I had a hole in my heart,” said State Representative Corey Paris, who spoke to CT Paid Leave about his own experience with a heart condition. “Paid family and medical leave is all about dignity and security. It’s about giving people the chance to navigate their life’s challenges and to do so without compromising their financial stability or well-being.”
Cardiovascular diseases impact adults disproportionately. For example, men are more likely than women to have been told by a health professional that they have had a stroke, a heart attack, or coronary heart disease (or told they have had a cardiovascular disease). Additionally, Hispanic adults are less likely to have been told they have a cardiovascular disease compared with White and Black Connecticut adults. Also, adults 65 years of age or older are nearly five times more likely than younger adults to have been told by a health professional that they have had a cardiovascular disease.
“Access to healthcare is crucial to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease,” Choquette continued. “Paid leave makes it possible to access that necessary healthcare without harmful financial impact.”
To hear more from Representative Paris and his heart health journey, please visit https://www.ctpaidleave.org/resources-and-guides/paid-leave-podcast.
For more information about CT Paid Leave and how to apply, please visit www.ctpaidleave.org.
