March 5, 2020

Contact: Monica Caballeros
[email protected], 720-496-2574

Denver– Connect for Health Colorado® Chief Executive Officer Kevin Patterson released the following statement on the announcement of the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option:

“We are evaluating the bill in depth to ensure we are ready to implement the Colorado Affordable Health Care Option. We are especially focused on evaluating the bill’s impact to financially-assisted Coloradans and whether their needs are suitably addressed in this bill. I’m confident that our Marketplace and our partners position us well to implement the program should the bill pass. We are eager to increase access, affordability, and plan choice to Coloradans and are prepared to support our state partners as they strive to maximize coverage and affordability.”

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About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, nonprofit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families, and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help, and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers and community-based Assisters. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com

Jan. 27, 2020

Denver – Connect for Health Colorado® Chief Executive Officer Kevin Patterson released the following statement in response to today’s Supreme Court decision on the Public Charge Rule:“I am disappointed about the overall impact this ruling will have on all of us, but especially on our friends, neighbors and co-workers seeking a permanent residency status. This rule will force people to get health care in more expensive ways and will cause worse health outcomes for Coloradans; exactly the opposite of our mission and the work our state has led to increase access, affordability and choice in health. I’d like to remind our customers that the financial help they may receive through the Marketplace does not count negatively against them if going through the public charge review process.  Our Assisters, Brokers and Customer Service Center can answer questions about financial help. We also developed a resource that includes immigration lawyers who can answer questions more directly about the public charge process.”

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About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is a public, nonprofit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of health insurance. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified brokers and community-based assisters. For more information: ConnectforHealthCO.com

DENVER — Nearly 167,000 Coloradans signed up for a health insurance plan through the state’s official Marketplace by the end of the Open Enrollment period, according to preliminary data released today by Connect for Health Colorado®.

Among the 2020 plan selections, about 20 percent are by customers who are new to Connect for Health Colorado and 80 percent are returning customers.

“This has been another successful Open Enrollment period,” said Chief Executive Officer Kevin Patterson. “Now the work continues to increase access, affordability and choice for residents. We are fully engaged with partners at the state and in the legislature to advise and help implement innovative approaches to lower the cost of health care and increase choice.”

Outside of the Open Enrollment period, Coloradans can only sign up for a health insurance plan through the Marketplace if they experience a “Qualified Life Event,” like losing job-based insurance, losing Medicaid, or certain family changes. Coloradans can continue to get help signing up for coverage from certified brokers and community-based assisters during their Special Enrollment period.

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About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance Marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers and community-based Assisters. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com

DENVER — More than 153,000 Coloradans signed up for a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado’s Marketplace by Dec. 18, 2019. Approximately 68 percent of applicants qualify for financial help to lower monthly premium costs.

“I am encouraged by the pace of sign-ups so far,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson.  “However, it’s not too late to get covered for 2020. I urge you to take advantage of the final deadline and all the support we offer by visiting our site, giving us a call, or finding local help in your community.”

The Open Enrollment period in Colorado ends Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. Residents who sign up for a health insurance plan by the deadline will receive a Feb. 1, 2020 coverage start date.

Outside of the Open Enrollment period, Coloradans can only sign up for a health insurance plan through the Marketplace if they experience a “Qualified Life Event,” like losing job-based insurance, losing Medicaid, or certain family changes.

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About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance Marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers and community-based Assisters. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com

December 18, 2019

Denver – Connect for Health Colorado® Chief Executive Officer Kevin Patterson released the following statement in response to the Fifth Circuit decision on the Texas v. Azar lawsuit:

“I want to reassure our customers that regardless of the ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the marketplace in Colorado is stable, strong and open for business. The steady pace of 2020 enrollments shows that Coloradans continue to rely on the health insurance coverage and the financial help our marketplace provides. The Affordable Care Act has withstood a variety of challenges since it became law nine years ago and remains unchanged while the case moves through the expected appeals, which will take some time. Colorado has also passed state laws that protect those with pre-existing conditions. You can rest assured that your financial help and plan protections and benefits remain in place.”

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About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, nonprofit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of health insurance. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified brokers and community-based assisters. For more information: ConnectforHealthCO.com

DENVER — To help as many people as possible get Jan. 1, 2020 coverage, Connect for Health Colorado® is pleased to announce that the deadline to get coverage on Jan. 1 has been extended. Coloradans have until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 18, 2019 to sign up for a health insurance plan that starts on Jan. 1, 2020.

To sign up for coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2020, Coloradans must take the following steps:

1. Complete an application and select a health insurance plan online at ConnectforHealthCO.com, over the phone at 855-752-6749, or by working with a certified enrollment expert by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
2. Call our Customer Service Center at 855-752-6749 and say, “I would like Jan. 1, 2020 coverage.” Individuals and families who sign up online after the Customer Service Center closes must call and place the request for January coverage on Thursday Dec. 19, 2019 before 6 p.m.

Customers who complete an application but do not follow the above steps will receive a Feb. 1, 2020 effective date of coverage.

Connect for Health Colorado provides free, expert help with the application and financial help process. To find help near you, visit ConnectforHealthCO.com/we-can-help.

The Open Enrollment period for 2020 coverage ends on Wednesday Jan. 15, 2020.

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About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance Marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers and community-based Assisters. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com

DENVER –  Nearly 42,000 Coloradans signed up for a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado’s Marketplace between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30. Approximately 70 percent of applicants qualify for financial help in the first month of the Open Enrollment period. Residents must sign up for a plan by Dec. 15, 2019 to have coverage in place by Jan. 1, 2020, however, Open Enrollment runs through Jan. 15, 2020.

Coloradans can sign up for a Marketplace plan online, over the phone or in person with a certified enrollment expert. Connect for Health Colorado has 23 enrollment centers to provide residents with walk-in help at different times throughout the week. Residents can also schedule an appointment.

“We partner with hundreds of local brokers and assisters so that residents in every corner of the state can find the best plan for their budget and health needs,” said Chief Executive Officer Kevin Patterson. “I urge residents to visit a nearby enrollment center or schedule an appointment with one of our experts before Dec. 15.”

Connect for Health Colorado enrollment teams organized events across the state ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline. Residents can find in-person assistance at more than 15 events from Glenwood Springs to Pueblo. To find help near you, visit ConnectforHealthCO.com/we-can-help.

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About Connect for Health Colorado Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance Marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers and community-based Assisters. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com

DENVER — Nearly 24,000 Coloradans have signed up for a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado’s Marketplace between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15. for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2020.

More Coloradans buying their own health insurance are seeing lower premiums, largely due to the reinsurance program that passed this year. Reinsurance helps insurers with their most costly claims. However, given the complexities of how financial help available through the Marketplace is calculated, current customers should shop around to reduce monthly costs.

On average, those who qualify to automatically renew their plan would lower their premiums by 15 percent (compared to 2019) if they switch to the lowest-cost plan in their current level of coverage.

Almost 98 percent of returning customers so far have shopped around and signed up for a different plan in their current level of coverage to take advantage of savings in 2020.

“I am encouraged that our message to actively compare plans and review plan options is resonating,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson. “With less than a month until the deadline for January coverage, we continue to remind customers to take the time to shop in order to find the best value.”

During the two-week period, 23,930 Coloradans made medical plan selections. Approximately 20 percent of the plan selections are by customers who are new to Connect for Health Colorado for 2020, and 80 percent are returning customers. About 70 percent of applicants are qualifying for financial help to lower monthly costs.

“Shopping for a plan is more important this year, no matter which part of the state you live in or whether you qualify for financial help,” said Patterson. “We have hundreds of enrollment experts ready to help people understand how lower rates in their community affects their health insurance options and prices. We want to ensure that Coloradans know we are here to help them through the shopping process.”

In 2020, eight health insurance companies will be offering a total 130 plans through the Marketplace.

Open Enrollment started Nov. 1, 2019 and runs through Jan. 15, 2020. Consumers must sign up for a plan by Dec. 15, 2019 to have coverage in place by Jan. 1, 2020.

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About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance Marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers and community-based Assisters. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com

DENVER– Connect for Health Colorado® releases the following statement on the final Proposal for Affordable Health Coverage Option (HB 19-1004) report:

“Connect for Health Colorado prioritizes collaboration with our partners to increase access, affordability and choice for residents buying their own health insurance. We are eager to expand access to meaningful, high-value plan choice to Coloradans with the final Proposal for Affordable Health Coverage Option. The strategies outlined in the final report are designed to reduce costs by increasing efficiencies, like making use of the existing Marketplace infrastructure. We stand behind these efforts by the Division of Insurance and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Together, we seek to improve affordability and health insurance company choice for Coloradans regardless of their income or where they live. We continue to support our state partners as they find ways to protect and maximize the financial assistance available. Our network of partners, including community-based assisters, licensed brokers and insurance companies, will be critical to a successful implementation of the option.

We continue to invest in our technology and to streamline operations to provide the best customer experience possible. We will be prepared to support Colorado consumers seeking affordable, quality health coverage through this proposed option.”

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About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, nonprofit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of health insurance. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified brokers and community-based assisters. For more information: ConnectforHealthCO.com

DENVER – The Open Enrollment period to purchase health insurance for 2020 kicks off Friday, Nov. 1, with rates lower across the board for the first time since the Marketplace opened for business in 2013. And while rates are lower, Connect for Health Colorado® strongly encourages all customers to compare their plan options before making a selection.

With the complexities of how the tax credit is calculated, customers who qualify for financial help will likely see a decrease in the dollar amount of assistance. It’s important to know that customers who qualify for financial help can reduce premiums an average of eight to 19 percent by switching to the lowest-cost plan available in their current coverage level.

“Affordability is of utmost importance to us because our customers continue to share their concerns and struggles with affording health care. It’s our job to make sure everyone knows the importance of comparing their plan options in order to see the substantial savings that are available in the new year,” said Chief Executive Officer Kevin Patterson. “No matter how people prefer to shop or which part of the state they live in, we are here to help connect them to the resources they need.”

55 percent of customers receiving financial help can purchase a plan in 2020 for $50 per month or less. During the enrollment period, an individual earning up to almost $50,000, and a family of four with an annual income of up to $103,000, can qualify for financial help through the Marketplace.

There are eight health insurance companies offering a total of 130 health plans through the Marketplace in 2020. Consumers may see greater plan selection among Silver plans and expanded Bronze plans in comparison to 2019. One new carrier, Oscar, will offer plans to residents in the Denver area. Peak Health Alliance will also offer plans via Bright Health to Summit County residents starting in 2020.  83 percent of current enrollees live in counties in which three or more carriers are offering plans in 2020.

Open Enrollment runs from Nov. 1, 2019, to Jan. 15, 2020. Consumers must enroll by Dec. 15 to have coverage in place by Jan. 1, 2020.

About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established by the Colorado General Assembly in 2011 to create a health insurance Marketplace.  Since 2013, we’ve been helping individuals, families and small employers compare plans, apply for financial help and buy health insurance. As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we are the only place to apply for financial help to lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access expert, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers and community-based Assisters. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com