What an inspiring week. I was pleased to “see” so many of our assisters, brokers, and community partners join us for the virtual CoverCo conference. We had over 700 people register and come together for the last three days, in preparation for the ninth Open Enrollment Period.

Some highlights of the conference included diving into plan distinction, hearing from our issuer partners about plans, assisting mixed eligibility households and how to help small businesses. The keynote speakers, Dr. Dwinita Mosby Tyler and Barbara Rubel, reminded us that we have a lot of work to do to keep equity front and center, while also managing our own compassion fatigue. Dr. Tyler’s personal stories were impactful, and she shared important reminders of how we can practice inclusivity and approach our responsibilities in an equitable way.

If you missed the conference, the materials will still be in the conference platform for a few more days.

I want to specifically thank the Connect for Health Colorado staff and the planning committee who helped organize this virtual conference, as well as the speakers who took time to help us prepare for Open Enrollment.

More to come on Open Enrollment in the coming weeks.

Take care, 

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

It’s officially fall, which means we are preparing for our busiest months to come. Behind the scenes, we have a lot to report.

While we are not in a formal Open Enrollment period currently, our doors are still open to those experiencing Life Change Events. In fact, next week, we know that thousands of Coloradans will lose the free COBRA premiums offered through the American Rescue Plan. We are asking for your help reminding those in that situation that they can likely still enroll for coverage for the rest of the year.

Some other good news to share is that we have been awarded a $1.1 million federal grant to fund some of our technology work. We will use the funding for costs related to implementing the new American Rescue Plan changes to the financial help now available. Additionally, the funds will help us update our infrastructure and decision support tools, improve and provide enhanced customer support, improve the customer experience for consumers who are eligible for insurance affordability programs, support timely and accurate eligibility determinations and ensure the highest data quality in enrollment transactions

In just over a week, from Oct. 5-7, we will gather with nearly 600 assisters, brokers and community partners during our CoverCO conference. We just shared the agenda, and I think you’ll find the conference extremely helpful in preparing for Open Enrollment. From sessions like our technology updates, to broker roundtables and small business outreach, to immigrant health coverage and issuer presentations, the conference will offer a great opportunity to connect and learn. Registration is still open

Last but not least, we formally announced this week that we have added a new board member. I am thrilled to welcome Christy Blakely to our board and look forward to her contributions.

Take care,

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

In these dog days of summer, I’ve been reflecting on what we have accomplished so far this year, and it truly amazes me. We reported out this week that we enrolled an additional 36,350 people from early February when we re-opened through Aug. 15 when we officially closed our doors for the extended enrollment period.

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for that. There is a lot of hard work that has gone into helping us spread the word to community members and remind them that we have been open throughout the year; especially since people could find additional savings because of the American Rescue Plan.

But our work isn’t over. We’re continuing to enroll new customers who experience Qualifying Life Changes. Behind the scenes, Connect for Health Colorado staff are preparing for the annual Open Enrollment Period, starting on Nov. 1, 2021.

One of the main ways we help our enrollment partners prepare for the upcoming Open Enrollment is through a conference called CoverCO. This year, the conference, held Oct. 5-7, is again virtual. The sessions will help us and our partners reconnect, prepare for Open Enrollment and let attendees share ideas to improve the health and well-being of Coloradans. For those interested, registration opened this week.

Thanks again for all you do.

Take care, 

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

As summer heats up, so are our enrollments. We announced last week that we have sustained a level of about 1,000 Coloradans enrolling a week over the past five months. I’m pleased that we have been able to help so many people get covered this year. And, given the economic situation many are in, we can help with the additional savings available because of the American Rescue Plan.

With just about a month left to get 2021 coverage, this is your reminder that we will close our doors on Sunday, Aug. 15. That will be the last day to enroll for this calendar year. After Aug. 15, Coloradans can only enroll if they have a life changing event.

We ask that you help us spread the word to anyone without insurance to check out our website or contact one of our Assisters, Brokers or Enrollment Centers to get covered. 

In the News

The Boulder Daily Camera shared more about the savings available to Coloradans through the American Rescue Plan.

Thanks for all you do to support Coloradans having access to coverage this year!

Take care, 

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

Coming off our announcement of enrolling 200,000 earlier than ever before, and now that we are over halfway through the year, I’d like to reflect on what we’ve accomplished in 2021 so far:

After closing our formal eighth enrollment period, we quickly reopened enrollment in February and have been able to offer more savings to our customers since April, thanks to the American Rescue Plan.

I am so proud of our staff for all the work they are putting in to keep our doors open and allow Coloradans to get enrolled. In fact, in May, we were named one of The Denver Post’s Top Workplaces.  

Last week, the United States Supreme Court announced its 7-2 decision in California v. Texas to uphold the Affordable Care Act. The ruling positively affirms that we are here to stay, and it creates certainty for our customers when it comes to their health coverage. You can read more in the joint statement from us and our partners at the State.

With that decision firmly made, we feel confident about the future of the Marketplace, and we can now turn our attention toward several state initiatives that have passed recently. We are hard at work, preparing to implement a new “Easy Enrollment” option that tax filers can use starting next year, as well as additional savings created by the state through the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise. These two laws from the 2020 legislative session will help even more Coloradans access affordable health care. We will also work closely with state leaders to implement the Standardized Health Benefit Plan. This new law will provide Coloradans with more meaningful or better plan choice.

Return to In-Person Outreach

As more Coloradans get vaccinated, we are able to be out into our communities again. For our staff, it means we can share the news that the Marketplace is open and offering more savings than ever. This month we are doing so at community events such as the Juneteenth festivals in Denver and Pueblo last weekend, and at Pride events in Denver throughout the end of the month.

Last Friday afternoon, I also had the honor of joining the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Gov. Polis and members of our Congressional delegation on a tour of a busy vaccination clinic in Aurora. I was glad to be there to support the health and wellbeing of Coloradans.

In the News

AARP shared an in-depth story about the savings available on the Marketplace through the American Rescue Plan and how to enroll.

Thanks again for continuing to spread the news that Coloradans can get covered now!

Take care, 

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

This week, we announced that more than 200,000 Coloradans have signed up for a health insurance plan this year. That is a historic number and one I am proud of. We normally don’t see this volume until October. It helps that so many of you have helped to spread the word that our doors are open and the American Rescue Plan has enabled us to offer more financial help than ever before.

As a reminder, we can still use your help reaching your communities and sharing the news about the additional savings available. We assembled an online toolkit that includes brochures, newsletter content and social media posts for you to use to help us share this news.

Standardized Plan Bill Passes

I recently shared that we took a support stance on and testified in support of House Bill 1232. The bill passed in the last few weeks of session. Next, the bill will undergo the rulemaking process, during which Colorado’s insurance commissioner will collaborate with stakeholders to develop the details of the standardized plan. The standardized plans will be offered on our Marketplace, with plan benefits beginning as early as Jan. 2023.

Take care,

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

May has proven to be one of the busier months of the year so far. Connect for Health Colorado staff have been working tirelessly to get our systems updated and our website re-launched with American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 changes.

If you haven’t done so yet, remind your communities that our doors are open until at least Aug. 15, and that there are more savings than ever before. We assembled an online toolkit that includes brochures, newsletter content and social media posts for you to use to help us share this news. Our statewide network of assisters and brokers are great resources for ensuring people can get the additional savings now offered.

Under the Dome

Our Board of Directors took a support stance on and we testified this week in support of House Bill 1232. The bill passed through the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and is on its way to Appropriations. We will continue working with legislators to remind them that the bill affects our customers by providing better plan choice, which in turn works toward our mission.

The Health Care Cost Analysis Task Force created a year ago under HB19-1176 is gathering stakeholder input on three different health care systems. Please weigh in and share your thoughts in this survey.

Enjoy the summer-like weather we are finally getting.

Take care, 

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