It’s time to get enrolled for 2023 health coverage. And this year, it’s important to remind customers that reviewing all the options before selecting a plan may result in even more savings.

This week, I participated in a panel hosted by the Colorado Sun with Division of Insurance Commissioner Mike Conway, Adam Fox from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) and John Ingold, reporter for the Sun. We had a good conversation about plan options for 2023, and provided Coloradans a guide to shopping and saving on the Marketplace this year.

With the passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act in August, people shopping with Connect for Health Colorado can qualify for more financial help than in the past, including many people who weren’t previously eligible because of their income. In fact, two out of three current customers can find a plan for $25 per month or less after financial help is applied.

The conversation reminded customers that there are six companies are returning to offer plansfor 2023. And starting this Open Enrollment, every company that sells health insurance in the state must offer Colorado Option plans, and these plans will be available on Connect for Health Colorado. With the departure of Oscar and Bright Health from the market for 2023, it is important customers shop for a plan to ensure they don’t lose coverage and will be able to continue health care.

As always, if customers want guidance enrolling, please lead them to our network of Brokers, Assisters and Enrollment Centers.

In the News
We are getting great traction with Spanish media with this piece in El Comercio, and an interview on Entravision’s Facebook page.

Take care, 

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

We are just under two weeks into this year’s Open Enrollment period for Coloradans to get their health coverage secured for 2023. We are seeing a lot of interest in getting enrolled, but want to remind folks that if they want guidance picking a plan or have questions about enrollment, we can help!

Our network of Brokers, Assisters and Enrollment Centers are available to help customers enroll. These certified experts live all over the state and speak your language. They’ll help customers apply free of charge. You can share a list of in person and virtual enrollment events around the state. We even produced new video ads this hear highlighting enrollment help in English and Spanish.

Thank you for your help getting the word out.

Take care, 

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

It’s that time. Open Enrollment has begun! Our doors opened on Tuesday for Coloradans to get enrolled in health coverage for Plan Year 2023.  

Not unlike other years, we are reminding customers to review their options, as they might be able to save money, even with rates increasing statewide.

Residents who qualify for financial help can expect even more assistance to offset rising costs, resulting in modest increases ($20/month on average) to net premiums if they renew into their current plan, and even net premium decreases for many customers in the Western area of the state. Many customers will be able to save money if they enroll in a different plan, rather than renew into their existing coverage. And with the new Colorado Option Plans, there are more plans and easier comparison.

Also new this year, undocumented Coloradans can compare and enroll into health plans and qualify for financial help on Colorado Connect, our new, secure online platform through the OmniSalud program.

We count on your help to get the word out among your networks of all of this year’s offerings. Don’t forget to point them to our network of brokers, assisters and enrollment centers for help enrolling.

In the News
Media outlets across the state are covering the news about Open Enrollment and what customers will pay this year. You can read more in: Axios, the Colorado Sun, Colorado Public Radio and  KKTV in Colorado Springs. 

Loss of a Health Leader

I was saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend Marguerite Salazar earlier this week. Many of you will remember her time as Colorado’s Insurance Commissioner from 2013-2017. She was an instrumental partner in our organization’s early success and remained a steadfast advocate for the health care needs of all Coloradans, especially those in rural communities. I know I speak for many when I say she will be deeply missed.

Take care, 

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

Time is flying and it is just about the end of October, which means our doors open next week officially for the Open Enrollment Period. In fact, the Division of Insurance released final rates this week, and I issued a statement about the outlook for our customers for next year.

Although overall rates are increasing an average of 10 percent statewide over 2022 premiums, many customers will be able to save money if they enroll in a different plan, rather than renew into their existing coverage. Residents who qualify for financial help can expect even more assistance to offset rising costs, resulting in modest increases ($20/month on average) to net premiums, and even net premium decreases for customers in the Western area of the state.

Additionally, with the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and the extension of financial assistance under the Inflation Reduction Act signed this August, even more Colorado residents are eligible for savings through our Marketplace.

Fixing the “Family Glitch”

This month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted a new regulation that will make it easier for Marketplace customers and their families who have an offer of health insurance from their job to qualify for financial help. When the Affordable Care Act first became law, employees and their households were often unable to qualify for savings because of a gap known as “the family glitch.” I’m very pleased that the regulatory change to address this gap is going into effect and that more customers can qualify for financial help. This year, we’ll direct customers who are impacted to contact our Customer Service Center for assistance.

In the News

I spoke with Public News Service about the affordability of plans and competition in Colorado this year, as well the expert enrollment help available our Marketplace.

The Colorado Sun and Colorado Public Radio covered the news about this year’s rates.

We are excited to open our doors next week, and will continue to share more about this year’s offerings as we kick things off.

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

I hope many of you had the opportunity to join us for the CoverCO conference this week, which felt like the pep rally to begin the Open Enrollment season. The conference included sessions about the new Colorado Option plans, the new OmniSalud Program, Connect for Health Colorado technology updates, and new this year, a session about the Colorado Agricultural Addiction and Mental Health Program. The keynote sessions about health equity and conflict resolution struck a cord for me and reinforced our values and ethics.

I appreciate so many of you taking the time to join us for the conference and for your contributions to Open Enrollment overall.

Bright Health Leaving Colorado
You might have also seen the news that Bright Health is withdrawing from Colorado’s health insurance market starting with the 2023 plan year. I released a statement about this news. And the Colorado Sun wrote about this change.

While I know this will cause a disruption for many, I’m confident in the number and the quality of the health plans that will be available for Coloradans shopping on our Marketplace for 2023. We will be able to share more about plan offerings very soon.

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

On this last day of September, we are counting down the days until our Open Enrollment Period begins. We will be able to share more about plan offerings in the coming weeks.

To help us all prepare, join us in just over a week for this year’s CoverCO conference, which will convene Oct. 11-13. This is an opportunity to reconnect, prepare for Open Enrollment, and discuss health policy changes. It will once again be hosted online.

This year’s agenda includes sessions about the new Colorado Option plans, the new OmniSalud Program, Colorado Connect, and many more sessions, so we are all prepared for this Open Enrollment Period. We will also have two keynote sessions – one about health equity and one about conflict resolution. Register here by Friday, Oct. 7.

Thank you to our planning committee and partners for making this conference informative and useful. I’ll see you online soon!

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

As the seasons change, it is a wonderful reminder that we are getting closer and closer to our Open Enrollment season. Our staff are hard at work preparing, and I look forward to sharing more about offerings on the Marketplace in the coming weeks.

Last week, a group of our staff and I traveled to Seattle to participate in the National Academy for State Health Policy conference. I enjoyed speaking to colleagues from other states and it was great to glean what is working in other states. I spoke on a panel with representatives from New York, New Jersey and Illinois, sharing what Colorado is doing to help make health coverage affordable. It was an honor to share our approach and the work we are doing to help move our mission of access, affordability and choice forward.

Take care, 

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

Earlier this week, I participated in a community event with Senators Hickenlooper and Bennett to celebrate the Inflation Reduction Act passing through the Senate.

Over the past few months, I have shared stories and data with our Senators and members of Congress about how these savings have made coverage more affordable. In many cases, they have changed lives. In our state, these enhanced subsidies lowered costs for 155,000 enrollees, reduced their average out-of-pocket costs by $900 per year and resulted in increased enrollments in rural communities across our state.

I’m grateful and extremely excited to plan for the three-year extension of additional ACA subsidies and to know we’re one important step closer to seeing this bill passed into law.

While we’re not quite done yet, I hope that the more than 200,000 Coloradans who rely on us to afford health insurance and get the health care that they need can rest a little bit easier knowing the Senate has crossed this milestone.

The bill is currently being debated in the House, where I hope for quick passage before it goes to President Biden for signature.

Take care, 

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