Danielle just turned 26 and needed her own health insurance plan.

For Melvin, who is diabetic, health insurance isn’t an option.

Erica spent over 10 years uninsured and with the affordable care act was finally able to get insurance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24PzI-qFX9A

Following is an excerpt form a customer email to a Connect for Health Colorado customer service representative.

“Just so you know, it really was the greatest thing that ever happened that you directed us into the best insurance ever. It brings us to tears when we think that Larry would not be alive right now if it weren’t for you. Your knowledge about the tax deduction along with the right plan, and especially your kindness around what we are going through, was pure proof that you are our angel. The hospital [without insurance] was going to turn Larry away. Our lives have been turned upside down, of course, but we have each other. We hope the scientific study he is in will prove successful. His genes are not good for the chemo and radiation treatments he, so we are counting on the study. The surgeon he had is the best around. Also it shows on the MRI that the cancer is gone. Praying it won’t come back. Larry “knows” it won’t. This is the best medicine as well they say. We thank you more than you could ever know.”

“I am extremely pleased with my new Connect for Health Colorado health plan. Having a good health plan is very important to me and should be to every person in the United States. My new employer didn’t offer a health plan, so I was left on my own to obtain coverage.

Having a modest income, all I could afford before 2014, was an unsatisfactory catastrophic insurance plan with a $10,000 deductible. Through the guidance of my incredible Broker, Brad Niederman of Niederman Insurance Agency, I was able to obtain great health insurance. Not only did Brad find a great policy for me, he went above and beyond to help with the entire process of signing up through Connect for Health Colorado. Without Brad’s help, I don’t think I could have successfully navigated through the process. I now have a much broader and better plan with only two-thirds of the premium cost of my old plan.

Thank you very much Brad and Connect for Health Colorado for making my life feel a little more secure with a quality and affordable health plan.”

Previously uninsured, Anna dreaded signing up for health insurance. “I was so happy to find a Health Coverage Guide right in Hotchkiss! I loved working with her, she made it happen so quickly and easily. She was able to answer my questions and explain what things on the application meant. I am now covered and can’t thank her enough for helping me.”

Cindy and Dominick LaJoy own and operate several family businesses in Montrose and health care is important to them and their five children. According to Cindy, “The recent changes in health care offerings were quite confusing and left us concerned about what would be the best options for our large family.”

Cindy is pretty tech savvy and spent a good deal of time researching the best options and pricing plans on the individual market. Ultimately, Cindy decided to seek the advice of a certified broker. She looked to her hometown agents and called the Watson Insurance Agency, who has several brokers/agents who are certified by Connect for Health Colorado to assist customers in enrolling and qualifying for financial assistance. “I knew we needed professional advice, and I turned to Watson Insurance Agency. They met with us personally, at no cost, and offered suggestions that led us to savings of almost $600 per month.” Cindy said.

After 35 years of teaching elementary and middle school students, Shirley, 57, of Center, CO, decided to retire after the 2013 school year so she could spend more time with her family and grandkids. “Immediately, I thought of insurance – the district had been paying for it. I was totally stressed about being insured.”

Shirley made an appointment with a certified Health Coverage Guide. “With the help of the guide, I found something reasonable,” she says. With $242 in tax credits, Shirley also signed up for a dental plan – and still saved about $140 a month compared to what her COBRA health plan alone would have cost.

“It is such a benefit to sit with somebody on a one-to-one basis to go over plans. I got all my questions answered; all my paperwork was completed before I walked out the door. I hugged the individual who helped me because I was so excited that I would soon have health coverage! It’s exciting to know I have insurance that will allow me to live within my means.”

When Lauren, a 28-year-old advertising account executive in Denver, received her letter, she wasn’t really surprised: Her health insurance company was discontinuing her plan of three years and advised her to shop for a new one.

“I knew I needed to get a new plan that met the requirements of the new law quickly.” After several years working in health communications, and buying her own policy since becoming an independent contractor three years ago, she’s fairly savvy about health insurance. Even though she didn’t qualify for new healthcare subsidies, Lauren compared her options on Connect for Health because I knew all the plans would be legal under ACA. I trusted that it had the latest, state-specific information.”

“There’s a lot of confusion around this,” she adds. “I have friends who are staying in jobs they’re not happy at (so they don’t lose insurance). They don’t know they can buy their own and that this site is for them.”

“My husband is a self-employed general contractor in Montrose, Colo. Our insurance rates have tripled in the last ten years and forced us to raise our deductible to $10,000.00. Our premium was almost $900.00 a month. We had to meet the deductible the past three years, which regretfully cut into our retirement.

We made an appointment with Lynn Caretta [a Connect for Health Colorado Health Coverage Guide]. Within the hour we had several options for our new health plan, all of which were extremely better than our current plan. After some deliberation, the plan we chose will save us approximately $600.00 per month and lower our deductible to $2,500.00.

Needless to say we were thrilled with the results. It was a very simple and smooth process. I would recommend everyone to contact Connect for Health Colorado and start 2014 with the comfort of knowing you have health insurance at an affordable rate.”