We know there is concern about a proposed rule change that would make it harder for immigrants to obtain visas or green cards if they have used or might use certain types of public assistance. We are reviewing the proposal and intend to make a formal comment.

The proposal would broaden the definition of a “public charge.” A public charge is an applicant considered not economically self-sufficient and a potential burden on the government.

The released rule differs from a draft that was leaked earlier by not including Advanced Premium Tax Credit among the assistance programs that could negatively impact immigration status. However, the proposal would add Medicaid, food stamps and housing subsidies to the list and we recognize the challenge the discussion is already bringing to our work and the work of many of our partners.

We will be discussing the proposed changes at our Oct. 8 board meeting. In the meantime, we have put together this memo for our board. Kaiser Health News has provided this high-level information.

As we get a better understanding, we will provide resources for our Brokers, our Community Based Assistance network, county eligibility workers and other partner organizations.

In the News

It’s becoming a trend among western states. Nevada was first and now New Mexico is moving to become a full state-based health insurance marketplace, like Colorado. Until now, the two states have operated on federal technology, but they have concluded that they can save money and achieve better flexibility operating on their own. Inside Health Policy had the story this week.

Eleven states and the District of Columbia operate fully state-based marketplaces, 11 states operate in various level of federal partnership, and the rest rely on entirely on the federal marketplace.

Take care,

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

We have been sharing a “sneak peek” at some of the key changes to our new eligibility system, even as we prepare to roll it out in October.

We have had a lot of great feedback from Assisters and Brokers along the way and in recent webinars. We have developed a 10-minute recorded presentation for anyone unable to attend (or wanting to review).

These were only the start. We are planning more presentations and trainings on the new system in coming weeks as we complete development.

Building Better Health Registration Open

Hope we will be seeing you at Building Better Health on October 15 and 16. This is always a great in-person training and networking opportunity for the people from all over the state who help Coloradans enroll in health coverage.

Building Better Health is hosted by Covering Kids and Families. We have been working on the planning committee with representatives of the state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, the state Division of Insurance, the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, and PEAK Outreach. The conference is funded by the Colorado Health Foundation.

Registration is free. The deadline to register is Friday, October 5. Learn more about Building Better Health.

Take care,

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

Kids are going back to school, a few stray yellow leaves are appearing in Colorado high country and as of Friday (August 17), we are 75 days from the November 1 start of Open Enrollment. The state Division of Insurance has published a draft regulation for public comment that sets the closing date for January 15, 2019. You can find it deep in that document, in Section 7.

November doesn’t feel so far away any more. We’re working hard on our new eligibility system and will be ready to welcome new and renewing customers by the first.

In the News

Colorado got a favorable mention this week in a Governing magazine article about state marketplaces where there are signs of premium stabilization, even with continued political uncertainty. We are among eight states the Kaiser Family Foundation found with at least one health insurance company asking to reduce premiums in preliminary filings.

Take care,

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

Contact: Luke Clarke 720-496-2545, [email protected]

DENVER – Annie Lee, an executive with Children’s Hospital and longtime healthcare leader in Colorado, joins the Connect for Health Colorado® Board of Directors following her appointment by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Ms. Lee comes to the board with extensive experience with health insurance assistance programs in Colorado and nationally. The appointment is to a term that runs to July 1, 2022, filling an opening created by the resignation of Denise M. O’Leary.

Ms. Lee is the executive director of Community Health and Medicaid Strategies and Programs at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She has worked with Medicaid and subsidy programs at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing as well as with Kaiser Permanente Colorado.

“We’re excited to welcome Annie to our Board,” said Board Chair Adela Flores-Brennan. “Her deep experience in healthcare and extending coverage to Coloradans with difficulty affording health insurance will serve us well in achieving our mission to increase access, affordability and choice in our state for individuals, families and small businesses.”

Ms. Lee graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Political Science and earned a Juris Doctorate from the Sturm College of Law, University of Denver.

The Connect for Health Colorado Board has nine voting members and three ex-officio members.

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.  It opened for business on Oct. 1, 2013, for individuals, families and small employers to compare and buy health insurance and is the only place to apply for financial help in the form of tax credits to help lower the monthly cost of premiums. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or online chat from Customer Service Center representatives; and access free, in-person help from a statewide network of certified Brokers, community-based Health Coverage Guides or Application Counselors. For more information:  ConnectforHealthCO.com

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

The Division of Insurance (DOI) has released encouraging news in the form of 5.94% average increase in the proposed rates for individual health insurance for 2019. The DOI notes in a press release that this is the smallest increase in a number of years and includes a breakdown by metal tier level.

We have said it before, but it is truer this year than ever. Individuals need to look at the total cost of their coverage – not just premium – and check for eligibility for Premium Tax Credit help before choosing their coverage.

We also want you to know that we have added a calendar of planned presentations about our new eligibility system to our technology page.

Risk Adjustment

Yesterday we joined with nine other state-based marketplaces in a letter to Health and Human Services executives emphasizing the critical importance of the risk adjustment program in restraining rate increases for our customers. The department announced suspension of the program one week ago based on questions arising from a February ruling in U.S. District Court in New Mexico.

Federal authorities clarified that the risk adjustment program in 2019 and beyond will continue, deep (page 3) in this July 12 memo.

In the News

We are reminded again this week of the benefit of operating our own state-based marketplace when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced another cut to assisters in states served by the federal marketplace. The New York Times reports the $10 million budget represents an 80 percent cut in two years.

Take care,

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

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

We had the opportunity Monday to talk with our policy committee about the results of our most recent surveys. That included surveys of new and returning customers, lapsed customers and Colorado residents selected at random.

The responses show progress in key areas:

• Fewer customers reporting technical problems
• More customers giving positive marks to our Customer Service Center
• An 18-point jump in the percentage of customers likely to recommend Connect for Health Colorado

In the News

There was encouraging news in a Kaiser Family Foundation report this week on the positive financial performance of health insurance companies in the individual market. A good first quarter this year for many follows positive results in 2017, more indication that markets are stabilizing, even as the policy debate continues.

Last Friday I participated with three other state-based marketplace directors on a panel at the national America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) 2018 Institute & Expo, where we talked about the importance of outreach strategies. Inside Health Policy covered it here.

Take care,

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

Please note that Connect for Health Colorado is currently in the process of making a final decision and will announce that decision no later than August 7th.

Connect for Health Colorado is soliciting responses from qualified entities that are able to provide a technical and an operational solution to implement three different decision-support tools.

The Request for Proposal provides additional details and instructions on how to respond. Please note the Request for Proposal’s timeline and non-functional requirements were updated on June 28, 2018.

Bidder questions and answers can be found here. Answers to an additional four questions were added on July 9, 2018.

We look forward to hearing from you.

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

We are always open to engaging with community partners throughout Colorado in a variety of ways. Part of achieving our mission to increase access, affordability and choice for individuals, families and small businesses buying health insurance is raising awareness about the help we can provide.

One of the most effective ways to do that is participating as a sponsor to some of the many events we are invited to join. We are hoping our partners, especially those outside of the metro Denver area, can help us identify opportunities that might work especially well in their communities.

We are always happy to learn of opportunities so we have added a page to our site to make it easy for anyone to let us know.

Please take a look and share it with anyone who may be interested.

In the News

You will be hearing about “silver loading” in Colorado health insurance premiums in the coming months leading up to our next Open Enrollment period. It can be a little confusing, but The Denver Post provided an explanation of the approach and how it can benefit consumers by reducing premiums.

Take care,

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

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

Members of our legislative oversight committee commended our progress when we met on Monday to talk about improvements to our customer service, our 2018-2019 budget and the challenges that come with assisting households with a mix of people enrolled in Connect for Health Colorado financial assistance and Medicaid or CHP+.

Chief among the customer service improvement is a new eligibility system that will simplify the application process in our next Open Enrollment with a more customer-centered design. Improvements to our Quick Cost and Plan Finder tool and to call handling in our Customer Service Center are also included in the $39 million spending plan that takes effect July 1.

As of May 30, there were 1,157 Colorado households with members in both Connect for Health Colorado and Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid) programs. We assist those households through our Medical Assistance site.

You can review the meeting materials here.

In the News

On Thursday the Trump administration announced in a court filing that it would not defend challenges to the Affordable Care Act brought by 20 states. The action threatens protections for people with pre-existing conditions. While this introduces new uncertainty to the healthcare policy landscape, it will likely be some months or years before the ultimate impact is known. The Washington Post provides perspective here.

Take care,

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

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

We will not be taking any time off this summer on development of our new eligibility system. Our work with stakeholders and technology partners to have a streamlined application in place for the next Open Enrollment Period continues full speed ahead.

We added a timeline this week to the web page on our site devoted to explaining this work and engaging our many stakeholders.

Advisory Group Opportunity

We are recruiting from the healthcare provider community for two open seats on our Board Advisory Group. Interested candidates should submit an application to [email protected].  More information can be found here.

Take care,

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