Now that the legislative session is over, the governor has been busy signing bills into law. It was exciting to be part of the bill signing at the Capitol for SB-81, a bill that gives us additional resources to raise awareness about the Marketplace. I again want to thank the prime bill sponsors — Representatives Will and Tipper, Senators Smallwood and Donovan – for their willingness to work with us and our Board to make sure this legislation has the greatest impact possible to increase access, affordability, and choice for people buying health insurance in Colorado.

I released a statement about what this bill means to us. We know that access to affordable health coverage starts with Coloradans knowing about the options available to them, and this law will enable us to do more outreach. With the additional marketing and outreach, we hope to keep working toward our goal of helping individuals and families attain and retain the right health care coverage for their needs and financial circumstances. Over the next several months, we will work on implementation plans and share them later this year.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

This week, I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, members of the Biden Administration and Congressional staff. Several other State Based Marketplace leaders and I joined together to push for the continuation of the American Rescue Plan subsidies and benefits that recently helped so many more people gain access to affordable health plans. Because these benefits are set to expire at the end of the year, we urged Congress to renew these affordability measures for our customers.

Summer Outreach

Summer is the busy season for our staff to get out into the community. We’ll be at events across the state throughout the summer to build awareness about Connect for Health Colorado and encourage people to come shop with us during Open Enrollment. In the coming weeks, here are a few places you will find us:

• Black Pride Colorado Family Cookout on June 19
• Denver’s Juneteenth Celebration
• Denver Pride 5K on June 25
• El Paso County Fair on July 16
• Fremont County Fair on July 29

In the News

The Washington Post wrote about the recent meetings in D.C.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

The 2022 legislative session wrapped up just before midnight on Wednesday. Although we know we aren’t quite finished with the pandemic, it sure was exciting to be able to participate in this year’s legislative session in person. I am thrilled I had the opportunity to see so many policy makers, advocates and friends in recent weeks while participating in the legislative process.

Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors took a support stance on two bills that passed and will await action from the Governor to become law: Healthcare Sharing Plan Reporting Requirements (HB22-1269) and Health Exchange Education Campaign Healthcare Services (SB22-081). We also took a monitor stance on Health Benefits For Colorado Children and Pregnant Persons (HB22-1289), which also passed.

Healthcare Sharing Plan Reporting Requirements (HB22-1269) will bring more transparency to health cost sharing arrangements. The bill will help Connect for Health Colorado better support customers in attaining and retaining the right health coverage for their circumstances.

Health Exchange Education Campaign Healthcare Services (SB22-081) will provide more funding to our marketing and outreach efforts, giving us additional resources to enhance our efforts. We know that access to affordable health coverage often starts with increasing people’s awareness of the options available to them. The bill directs the additional marketing and outreach to focus on reducing the uninsured rate and improving health literacy in Colorado.

I’d like to specifically thank the prime bill sponsors — Representatives Will and Tipper, Senators Smallwood and Donovan – for their willingness to work with us and our Board to make sure this legislation has the greatest impact possible to increase access, affordability, and choice for people buying health insurance in Colorado.

Lastly, Health Benefits For Colorado Children and Pregnant Persons (HB22-1289) includes multiple health care provisions. Most notably, the bill creates a special enrollment period for uninsured pregnant persons beginning in 2024, and expands eligibility for pregnant persons and children for Medicaid and CHP+ regardless of documentation status beginning in 2025.

We look forward to seeing these bills become laws and move health policy forward in our state.

Connect for Health Colorado Board Changes

At this week’s board meeting, our Board Chair, Claire Brockbank, and board member Adela Flores-Brennan, announced they are moving on to other endeavors, and will be leaving our Board.

I’d like to take a moment to thank each of them for their numerous contributions and wish them both well in their new positions.

I am staying in close contact with Governor Polis’ team as he considers future appointments to fill these vacancies. In the meantime, I’m honored that Lorez Meinhold will be our Interim Board Chair.

In the News

The Colorado Sun has a comprehensive round up of some of the top bills passed during the legislative session.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

Springtime is upon us which means we’ve had enough time to dig into our data from this year’s Open Enrollment Period. We are thrilled to share the official report, By The Numbers. In it, we provide an interactive deep dive into the overall story of the enrollment period. You’ll see our enrollment numbers overall and by county, costs for our customers, how our enrollment network helps save people money and more about our improved customer experience.  

This year, federal and state insurance subsidies boosted our enrollments. By the end of the Open Enrollment Period in January, nearly 200,000 Coloradans signed up for a 2022 plan. (Also, please note that this report doesn’t include data from our recent Special Enrollment Periods).

Tax Time Last Call!

If you know someone without health insurance, and that person hasn’t filed taxes yet, don’t forget that we have a new Special Enrollment Period opportunity called Tax Time Enrollment.  Coloradans can check a box on the state tax form to get more information about enrolling in a Marketplace plan if eligible or connecting to coverage with Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program).

Funding Opportunity for Enrollment Assistance Sites

A reminder that we are in an application cycle for new and returning organizations, including licensed Brokers, to operate Assistance Sites and Enrollment Centers across the state for our two-year funding cycle.  The application deadline for funding is April 25. Thank you for passing this on to any organization you know who might be interested.

In the News

A new federal rule proposed this week will make federal tax credit assistance available to families affected by the “family glitch”. Those affected are the family members of employees with employee sponsored insurance whose health coverage does not meet the federal threshold for affordability as a percentage of total household income. The Washington Post shares a summary.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

As many of you know, our network of Brokers and Assisters is critical to ensuring Coloradans have help walking through the enrollment process, as well as delivering outreach and health insurance literacy education to the Colorado community. They help us make sure local communities, especially those who face barriers to health coverage, can access the plans and savings we offer.

That being said, we announced that we are accepting applications from new and returning organizations, as well as licensed Brokers, to operate Assistance Sites and Enrollment Centers across the state for our two-year funding cycle.  We welcome applications from community-based organizations, medical facilities, associations, ranching and farming organizations, chambers of commerce, unions, state and local human service agencies, Certified Brokers/Broker Agencies and other organizations that meet the criteria for selection. The application deadline for funding is April 25.

Thank you for your help sharing this news with any organization that might be interested.

ACA Turns 12

The Affordable Care Act has now been around for 12 years – the official anniversary of the law passing was this week. It is great to honor the national law that allows us to provide tax credits.

When the ACA passed, Colorado had already been studying and building a health insurance marketplace for our state’s residents with that same mission through the Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform. In 2011, Connect for Health Colorado was established by the Colorado General Assembly as a public, non-profit entity to create a health insurance marketplace.

In the News

Great Day Colorado did a segment on Tax Time Enrollment. The National Academy for State Health Policy shared commentary and I am quoted in this piece about the affordability for customers this year due to the American Rescue Plan.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

We reported this week on the number of enrollments we’ve seen with our doors once again open. More than 6,000 Coloradans signed up for a plan using a Special Enrollment Period since the traditional Open Enrollment Period ended, bringing the total number of enrollments for 2022 coverage to nearly 205,000 so far.

And, it’s not too late to remind people that affordable coverage is within their reach, with extra savings available this year. We are currently open just through next Wednesday, March 16, for those who need coverage through our Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period. After that, Coloradans can check a box on their state tax form which might open up an additional opportunity to enroll through Tax Time Enrollment.

Thanks for pointing people to our website and to our enrollment Assisters and Brokers to get coverage now for the rest of 2022.

Face-to-face time with our Brokers

In these times, I appreciate being able to spend part of my day in person with our Brokers at the Colorado State Association of Health Underwriters Day at the Capitol. Brokers are an essential part of our Marketplace and are a trusted resource for our customers, so celebrating recent enrollment successes and having the time to both reflect on the past year and share thoughts on what’s to come is always a treat.

In the News

Blogger Charles Gaba shared the news about our Special Enrollment Period success and the Gazette noted more about our collaboration with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing as we begin to prepare for the end of the public health emergency.  

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

As we move toward spring, we have continued enrolling Coloradans in earnest after the traditional Jan. 15 end of enrollment. Of course, Coloradans with special circumstances can enroll year-round, but this year we have a few new opportunities to get even more people covered.

As a reminder, we formally launched a special enrollment period in the making since the 2020 legislative session – Tax Time Enrollment, which allows Coloradans to check a box on their state tax return that they are uninsured and interested in finding out if they qualify for free or low-cost health coverage. In addition, we are currently open just through Wednesday, March 16 for those who need coverage through our Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period.

To make it easier to see all the ways Coloradans can enroll, we’ve updated our website and also have a toolkit with resources to help us get the word out about the Tax Time opportunity.

We know sometimes people want help through the process, so our network of Brokers and Assisters are ready to help.

In the News

AARP wrote about getting covered this year.

Thanks again for helping us get the word out.   

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

We formally launched a Special Enrollment Period in the making since the 2020 legislative session – Tax Time Enrollment.

This state law allows Coloradans to check a box on their state tax return that they are uninsured and interested in finding out if they qualify for free or low-cost health coverage. After checking the box, residents will get a letter outlining the steps to see if they qualify for financial help on the Marketplace, or if they are eligible for insurance through Health First Colorado.

I am proud of all the efforts of our staff, and the coordination with state partners, such as the Department of Revenue and the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing, to make sure every Coloradan has the opportunity to enroll in affordable coverage.

In addition to Tax Time Enrollment, we are currently open through March 16 for those who need help through our Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period.

So, if you know of anyone who still needs to get covered for the year, please remind them that financial help is available to more Coloradans than ever this year. And if they want help enrolling, our network of Brokers and Assisters are able to walk through the process with them.

In the News

El Semanario (page 13) shared more about our Tax Time Special Enrollment Period.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

It was an honor to be joined by U.S. Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, as well as Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway during a press conference to share the news that nearly 200,000 Coloradans enrolled during our most recent Open Enrollment period.

I am thrilled we were able to help so many people get affordable health coverage for the year and continue to remind everyone there is still an opportunity to get enrolled through our Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period. I appreciate the support of our senators — and all of you — in helping us remind people that it isn’t too late to enroll. In these times of the pandemic and with the loss of homes in Boulder County, we want to make sure anyone still without coverage has time to get covered.  

As a reminder, we have plenty of free enrollment assistance – our Brokers, Assisters and Enrollment Centers are open to helping people through the process.

Joint Health Committee Presentation  

Yesterday, I presented at a Joint Colorado House Health Committee Hearing, sharing more about what we accomplished in the last year, as well as reminding policymakers about our current enrollment opportunities. It’s always a pleasure to talk about our work under the dome.

In the News

Southern Colorado News Station KOAA and Patch covered the news of our enrollment numbers and news about the Disaster Special Enrollment Period.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, our friends and neighbors who find themselves affected by the recent Marshall Fire and the ongoing pandemic remain on the minds of the entire Connect for Health Colorado team. We are committed to doing what we can to help, given these unfortunate circumstances.

To do so, we worked with the Colorado Division of Insurance and our issuer partners to open a Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period just after Open Enrollment ended last weekend, to give uninsured Coloradans extra time to make sure they get the coverage they need for the year.  

Thank you for spreading the word about this extra opportunity to find affordable coverage options for the year.

Talking with Rural Health and Health Policy Partners

This time of year, with the legislative session starting allows me an opportunity to get out and talk to many of our partners. I enjoyed some time this week at the Voices of Rural Colorado, meeting with leaders from across the state during this joint conference hosted by Action 22, Club 20 and Pro15.

I am also speaking today on a panel about health coverage enrollment trends and affordability.

I appreciate these chances to talk about the work we do at Connect for Health Colorado and listen to what is going on both in rural communities and the health policy space.  

In the News

Kaiser Health News and the Denver Post helped us get the word out about this new Special Enrollment Period.

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado