Connect for Health Colorado and Colorado Medicaid Update

Ben Davis, [email protected], 303-522-6790 (Connect for Health Colorado)
Rachel Reiter, [email protected], 303-866-3921 (Colorado Medicaid)

DENVER, CO – Between October 1, 2013, and March 1, 2014, over 220,000 Coloradans have signed up or been approved for health coverage, according to new data from Connect for Health Colorado and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

There are 27 days left to sign up for commercial health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado. March 15 is the next deadline for commercial health insurance coverage that starts April 1. Open enrollment ends March 31. From April 1, Coloradans will not be able to get commercial health insurance, unless they have a qualifying life event, until 2015. Enrollment for Medicaid is year-round.

“With over one million visitors to our website since opening October 1, we are encouraged to see continued interest by Coloradans to purchase comprehensive health insurance and apply for tax credits,” said Patty Fontneau, CEO of Connect for Health Colorado. “Of the nearly 85,000 people who have applied, more than 47,000 Coloradans are benefiting from tax credits that are saving them an average of over $275 a month on their monthly premium. We are stepping up outreach efforts to help as many Coloradans as possible access coverage and tax credits in the final four weeks of open enrollment.”

“We are pleased with our continued success at enrolling uninsured Coloradans into coverage,” said Susan Birch, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. “Our strong network of county and community partners has enabled Colorado to be a national leader in enrolling individuals into new coverage faster, and more efficiently than many other states.”

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** More metrics information about Medicaid is available here and more metrics information about Connect for Health Colorado is available here.

Through state laws, Connect for Health Colorado was established as a non-profit entity with a Colorado mission. In addition, Colorado has expanded eligibility for Medicaid. Private health insurance purchased through Connect for Health Colorado’s competitive marketplace and the expanded eligibility for Medicaid both began taking effect in 2014.

Connect for Health Colorado has been open since October 1, 2013 and operates with separate technology and customer service operations from the federal marketplace, healthcare.gov. Connect for Health Colorado is open to individuals, families and small businesses. Individuals and families can choose from up to 150 private health insurance plans from ten carriers and small employers can create small group plans from up to 92 health insurance plans provided by six carriers. The Customer Service Center is open from 7 am to 8 pm Mondays through Saturdays at 1-855-PLANS-4-YOU (855-752-6749). More information is available at www.ConnectforHealthCO.com.

Colorado Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) are public insurance programs for low income Coloradans.  The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing administers these programs.  Coloradans have multiple ways to apply for coverage, Colorado.gov/PEAK is the online application for public assistance programs including medical assistance.  For more information visit Colorado.gov/hcpf or visit Colorado.gov/health. The Medicaid Call Center (800-221-3943 for general questions and 800-359-1991 to check application status) are available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.