Connect for Health Colorado® Opens Downtown Denver Store Sunday to Launch Colorado’s Third Open Enrollment for Individuals and Families

DENVER — Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson and his staff are opening the Marketplace’s popular downtown store for business Sunday as Coloradans begin shopping for their 2016 private health insurance in the state’s third Open Enrollment Period for individuals and families.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to serve new customers and to help the more than 153,000 customers who bought coverage through us this year find the best coverage for next year,” Patterson said. “With eight health insurance companies competing for our customers, individuals and families in our state can look forward to a number of coverage options and opportunities to save on their premiums.

“With a statewide network of certified Brokers and Health Coverage Guides offering free, in-person, confidential assistance, we are ready to help. We have also put in place a number of enhanced and new customer support tools to provide Coloradans a better enrollment experience and to achieve our mission to increase access, affordability and choice.”

Open Enrollment runs from November 1 through January 31. Whether you are renewing or enrolling for the first time, you must complete enrollment by December 15, to have coverage January 1, and avoid a gap in your coverage. Connect for Health Colorado customers will have 188 individual plans offered for 2016, up from 176 last year.

During the three-month Open Enrollment Period, 18 enrollment centers will be serving walk-in customers on varying schedules. Find information on those centers, as well as for Brokers or our Community-Based Assistance Program at Connectforhealthco.com. The downtown Denver enrollment center is at 1601 California Street.

Media Advisory

Connect for Health Colorado CEO Kevin Patterson will be available for interviews at the downtown enrollment center on Sunday, November 1, from 1 pm to 4 pm, to talk about the departure of the Colorado HealthOP and other changes to the marketplace this year.

Contact Luke Clarke, [email protected], 720-496-2545, if you would like to schedule an interview.

Key Dates and Deadlines for Individuals and Families

  • Open Enrollment: November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016.
    • You cannot purchase health insurance after this period unless you have a qualifying life-change event, such as marriage, divorce, having a child, losing your employer-sponsored insurance, or moving to Colorado.
  • Last day to enroll for coverage beginning January 1, 2016, is December 15, 2015. You must pay your first-month’s bill by December 25.
  • Last day to enroll for 2016 coverage (absent a life change event): January 31, 2016.

About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established 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 is the only place to apply for financial assistance in the form of tax credits to help lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access free, in-person assistance from a statewide network of certified Brokers, community-based Health Coverage Guides or Application Counselors. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com