Connect for Health Colorado and Colorado Medicaid Update

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

DENVER, CO – During the month of October, more than 37,000 Coloradans have signed up or been approved for health coverage that takes effect January 1, 2014, according to data released today from Connect for Health Colorado and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

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“Since October 1, interest has remained strong in Colorado’s new competitive marketplace for private health insurance,” said Connect for Health Colorado CEO Patty Fontneau.  “We continue to enhance the shopping experience and step up outreach initiatives to enroll thousands of Coloradans for 2014 coverage.”

“We are pleased with the number of Coloradans who have applied for and that will benefit from expanded Medicaid coverage starting in January 2014,” said Health Care Policy and Financing Executive Director Susan Birch.  “We still have work to do to reach the uninsured and connect them with the coverage they need, this is a marathon not a sprint.  Applying for coverage is the first step towards better health.”

Colorado has been working for years to improve access to health coverage. On October 1, the opening of Connect for Health Colorado in conjunction with an enhanced online Medicaid application system was a major step forward toward that goal.

Through state laws, Connect for Health Colorado was established as a non-profit entity with a Colorado mission. In addition, Colorado is expanding eligibility for Medicaid. Private health insurance purchased through Connect for Health Colorado’s competitive marketplace and the expanded eligibility for Medicaid both take effect starting January 1, 2014. Enhanced federal funding that is available starting January 1, 2014 will support the Medicaid expansion.  Colorado.gov/PEAK is the online application for Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+).  Medicaid and CHP+ do not have an open enrollment period and takes applications year round.

Connect for Health Colorado has been open since October 1 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, offering health insurance options that will take effect as early as January 1, 2014. The system continues to be refined and upgraded, including an online tax credit application process that was implemented earlier this week.

Open enrollment for Connect for Health Colorado continues until March 31, 2014. 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. New financial assistance will be available to nearly 500,000 Coloradans to reduce costs. 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.

Learn more about Medicaid and Connect for Health Colorado’s website metrics.