Connect for Health Colorado® and Colorado Medicaid Report Enrollment Gains of More Than 211,000

February 2, 2016

Contacts: Connect for Health Colorado, Luke Clarke, 720-496-2545, [email protected],
Health Care Policy and Financing, Marc Williams, 303-866-3144, [email protected]

DENVER — Between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31, 211,579 Coloradans enrolled in health coverage for 2016, either in private health insurance purchased through the state health insurance Marketplace or in Medicaid, or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), according to new data released today by Connect for Health Colorado® and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

During the three-month open enrollment period that concluded Sunday, 153,583 people enrolled in private health care coverage through Connect for Health Colorado®. Another 54,447 enrolled in Medicaid and 3,549 in CHP+. Connect for Health Colorado also enrolled 25,604 in dental plans.

“I am pleased that so many Coloradans took the important step of getting health coverage through us,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson.  “Everyone in our organization – along with the many stakeholders and partners who helped us enroll so many people in our state – can take pride in what they accomplished in the last 90 days on behalf of thousands of Colorado families. Those folks now have more financial security and the ability to get the healthcare they need.”

The Connect for Health Colorado totals compare to 141,639 health plan enrollments in the previous open enrollment period that ended Feb. 15, 2015.

“Once again, Colorado has come together to help our residents find health coverage for themselves and their families,” said Susan E. Birch, MBA, BSN, RN, executive director for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. “Should someone lose their health care coverage during the year, Medicaid provides health insurance for low income Coloradans who meet eligibility requirements any time during the year.”

Although open enrollment for this year ended Jan. 31, individuals and families whose health insurance company is no longer offering health plans in their area – or because they had a policy last year that no longer meets the minimum legal requirements – will be permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29  through a Special Enrollment Period. This includes individuals and families who purchased their 2015 health insurance on or off Connect for Health Colorado’s site.

Medicaid and CHP+ are open to qualifying individuals year-round.

Connect for Health Colorado will work with anyone who has started but not yet completed the sign up process to complete their enrollment for 2016 coverage.

Nov. 1-Jan. 31

2016 Coverage Total Medicaid CHP+ Connect for Health Colorado (private insurance)
Coloradans enrolled

 

211,579 54,447 3,549 153,583

 

About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established in law by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance Marketplace.  It opened for business on Oct. 1, 2013, for individuals, families and small employers to compare and buy health insurance and apply for tax credits to help make their insurance more affordable. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or chat from expert Customer Service Center representatives; and find in-person assistance from certified brokers and agents, community based certified Health Coverage Guides or Certified Application Counselors. In 2015, the Marketplace enrolled more than 150,000 Coloradans in private insurance and helped nearly 100,000 gain access to new tax credits that made their health coverage more affordable – all while keeping fees among the lowest in the country. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: The Department administers the Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus programs as well as a variety of other programs for low-income Coloradans who qualify. For more information about the department, please visit Colorado.gov/hcpf.