July 8, 2016
Contact: Luke Clarke 720-496-2545

DENVER – Gov. John Hickenlooper has named Kyle M. Brown, the governor’s Senior Health Policy Advisor, to the Connect for Health Colorado® Board of Directors to serve in an ex-officio capacity.

The Connect for Health Colorado board has nine voting members and three ex-officio (non-voting) members. They are appointed by Republican and Democratic leaders in the state Legislature and by the governor.

As the Senior Health Policy Advisor, Brown advises the governor on legislation, regulations, and agency actions related to health and human services.  Previously, he was the Special Projects Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, where he focused on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and connecting criminal justice involved populations with healthcare.

Brown has served as a health, education, and human services policy advisor to two senior U.S. Senators.  He received his Ph.D. in Genetics from Harvard University and his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University. He replaces David Padrino, also of the governor’s senior staff, who has served on the Connect for Health Colorado Board since December 2014.

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 assistance 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 assistance from a statewide network of certified Brokers, community-based Health Coverage Guides or Application Counselors. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

April 12, 2016
Contact: Luke Clarke 720-496-2545, [email protected]

DENVER – The average monthly savings on health insurance purchased through Connect for Health Colorado® this year is $294 a month, according to an analysis released today by the state health insurance marketplace, up from an average $228 a month last year.

The savings come in the form of a federal tax credit applied to monthly insurance premiums for qualifying individuals and families who enroll in health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado®. Not only has the average monthly tax credit increased, but the number of Coloradans who have qualified for the tax credit has risen 35 percent, according to the report.

Overall, Coloradans received $184 million in tax credits in 2015, when a total of 152,470 individuals and families signed up through the state marketplace.

Today’s report includes a county-level look at average premiums and tax credits for 2016. It covers enrollments during the three-month open enrollment period (Nov. 1, 2015-Jan. 31, 2016), as well as the “special enrollment period” that extended through February for many Coloradans whose 2015 coverage was not available for 2016.

Connect for Health Colorado enrolled 169,156 individuals and families in health insurance for 2016 in the period between Nov. 1, 2015, and Feb. 29, 2016, according to the detailed report published on the Connect for Health Colorado web site today. The enrollments for the four-month period exceeded the 141,639 enrolled during the previous three-month open enrollment period by 19 percent. (There was no large-scale special enrollment period last year.)

“This report shows real progress throughout the state in improving the financial and health security of our residents,” said Kevin Patterson, Connect for Health Colorado CEO. “We are grateful for the work of all of our partners – in particular the community-based  groups supporting our assistance network and the licensed brokers who join us in increasing access, affordability and choice in health coverage for our state.”

A network of 1,137 of certified brokers, 128 Health Coverage Guides and 296 Certified Application Counselors worked to assist Coloradans enrolling in healthcare coverage through the state marketplace. The number of enrollments is up in 61 of Colorado’s 64 counties.

Average tax credit by county: click here.

Enrollment by county: click here.

About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established in law 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 apply for tax credits to help make their insurance more affordable. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or chat from expert Customer Service Center representatives; and find in-person assistance from certified brokers and agents, community based certified Health Coverage Guides or Certified Application Counselors. In 2016, the Marketplace enrolled more than 160,000 Coloradans in private insurance – all while keeping fees among the lowest in the country. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

 

April 11, 2016
Contact: Luke Clarke 720-496-2545

DENVER — The Connect for Health Colorado® board of directors on Monday voted unanimously to name Adela Flores-Brennan chair of the 12-member panel, which oversees the state health insurance marketplace.

Flores-Brennan, the executive director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI) and a former staff member at Connect for Health Colorado, was named to the board one year ago by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. She has worked for more than 16 years in law and public policy in Colorado, serving as director of community-based assistance programs at Connect for Health Colorado before taking the helm at CCHI, a statewide, non-profit advocacy group working on behalf of healthcare consumers.

She replaces Sharon O’Hara, executive vice president of the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, who has served as board chair since July 2014 and who continues her service on the board.

In accepting the position, Flores-Brennan praised O’Hara’s work as board chair.

“We, as a board, are grateful for Sharon’s resolute leadership and the countless hours she has devoted to expanding coverage for Coloradans,” Flores-Brennan said. “We have come a long way in the nearly two years that Sharon served as chair. The success we see in nearly every corner of the state during our most recent open enrollment is a testament to the value of her leadership.”

The Connect for Health Colorado board has nine voting members and three ex-officio members. They are appointed by Republican and Democratic leaders in the state Legislature and by the governor.

Other voting members of the board include: Steve ErkenBrack, president and chief executive officer of Rocky Mountain Health Plans; Nathan Wilkes, Founder and Principal Consultant Headstorms, Inc., an IT consulting firm; Marc Reece, senior director of state government affairs, Western Region, for Aetna; Jay Norris, an independent insurance broker; Denise O’Leary, a Denver businesswoman; Eric Grossman, president and CEO, NextHealth Technologies and Davis Fansler, a Telluride businessman.

Ex-officio members are David Padrino, Gov. Hickenlooper’s Chief Performance Officer; Marguerite Salazar, the state Commissioner of Insurance; and Sue Birch, executive director of the state department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

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 assistance 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 assistance from a statewide network of certified Brokers, community-based Health Coverage Guides or Application Counselors. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com.

 

DENVER – Connect for Health Colorado® saw increases in enrollment in nearly every county in the state during the Open Enrollment Period that concluded Jan. 31, with some of the largest increases coming in rural and mountain counties.

Overall, the number of Coloradans enrolling in medical coverage through the state Marketplace increased 10 percent over the number a year earlier.  However, the number rose by 81 percent in Rio Blanco County, in the northwest corner of the state, and Summit County saw a 44 percent jump in enrollments. Other resort counties saw sizable jumps. In Eagle County, enrollments rose 36 percent, while in Pitkin County they increased 34 percent.

Rural counties on the Western Slope – such as Montezuma County with 63 percent and La Plata County with 29 percent – saw strong growth, as did counties on the eastern plains – such as Baca County with 44 percent and Yuma County with 35 percent growth.

“We work with partners throughout the state to ensure that all Coloradans have access to in-person help,” said Kevin Patterson, Connect for Health Colorado CEO. “These increases are really a testament to the success of our partners who are doing the on-the-ground work at events and the statewide enrollment centers across Colorado.”

A network of 1,137 of certified brokers, 128 Health Coverage Guides and 296 Certified Application Counselors worked to assist Coloradans enrolling in healthcare coverage through the state Marketplace. The Connect for Health Colorado Marketplace is the only place where qualifying families and individuals can receive financial help in the form of tax credits, which reduce their premium when they buy health insurance.

During the three-month open enrollment period (Nov. 1, 2015-Jan. 31, 2016), Connect for Health Colorado conducted an extensive outreach campaign across the state to increase awareness about the deadlines, importance of having coverage and the cost of going without coverage.

Although open enrollment for this year ended Jan. 31, individuals and families whose health insurance company is no longer offering health plans in their area – or because they had a policy last year that no longer meets the minimum legal requirements – will be permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29  through a Special Enrollment Period. Individuals and families need not to have purchased their 2015 health coverage through Connect for Health Colorado to qualify.

In addition, some Coloradans can still purchase coverage for 2016 if they experience any one of a number of certain life change events – such as losing coverage provided through a job, moving to Colorado, getting married or the addition of a child to the family. More information about “special enrollment” circumstances can be found on our website.

View more county-level metrics

About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established in law 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 apply for tax credits to help make their insurance more affordable. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or chat from expert Customer Service Center representatives; and find in-person assistance from certified brokers and agents, community based certified Health Coverage Guides or Certified Application Counselors. In 2016, the Marketplace enrolled more than 160,000 Coloradans in private insurance – all while keeping fees among the lowest in the country. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

February 2, 2016

Contacts: Connect for Health Colorado, Luke Clarke, 720-496-2545, [email protected],
Health Care Policy and Financing, Marc Williams, 303-866-3144, [email protected]

DENVER — Between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31, 211,579 Coloradans enrolled in health coverage for 2016, either in private health insurance purchased through the state health insurance Marketplace or in Medicaid, or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), according to new data released today by Connect for Health Colorado® and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

During the three-month open enrollment period that concluded Sunday, 153,583 people enrolled in private health care coverage through Connect for Health Colorado®. Another 54,447 enrolled in Medicaid and 3,549 in CHP+. Connect for Health Colorado also enrolled 25,604 in dental plans.

“I am pleased that so many Coloradans took the important step of getting health coverage through us,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson.  “Everyone in our organization – along with the many stakeholders and partners who helped us enroll so many people in our state – can take pride in what they accomplished in the last 90 days on behalf of thousands of Colorado families. Those folks now have more financial security and the ability to get the healthcare they need.”

The Connect for Health Colorado totals compare to 141,639 health plan enrollments in the previous open enrollment period that ended Feb. 15, 2015.

“Once again, Colorado has come together to help our residents find health coverage for themselves and their families,” said Susan E. Birch, MBA, BSN, RN, executive director for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. “Should someone lose their health care coverage during the year, Medicaid provides health insurance for low income Coloradans who meet eligibility requirements any time during the year.”

Although open enrollment for this year ended Jan. 31, individuals and families whose health insurance company is no longer offering health plans in their area – or because they had a policy last year that no longer meets the minimum legal requirements – will be permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29  through a Special Enrollment Period. This includes individuals and families who purchased their 2015 health insurance on or off Connect for Health Colorado’s site.

Medicaid and CHP+ are open to qualifying individuals year-round.

Connect for Health Colorado will work with anyone who has started but not yet completed the sign up process to complete their enrollment for 2016 coverage.

Nov. 1-Jan. 31

2016 Coverage	Total	Medicaid	CHP+	Connect for Health Colorado (private insurance)
Coloradans enrolled	211,579	54,447	3,549	153,583

 

About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established in law 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 apply for tax credits to help make their insurance more affordable. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or chat from expert Customer Service Center representatives; and find in-person assistance from certified brokers and agents, community based certified Health Coverage Guides or Certified Application Counselors. In 2015, the Marketplace enrolled more than 150,000 Coloradans in private insurance and helped nearly 100,000 gain access to new tax credits that made their health coverage more affordable – all while keeping fees among the lowest in the country. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: The Department administers the Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus programs as well as a variety of other programs for low-income Coloradans who qualify. For more information about the department, please visit Colorado.gov/hcpf.

Date January 29, 2016
Contact: Luke Clarke 720-496-2545

DENVER — Connect for Health Colorado® is gearing up and extending hours for an anticipated rush of Coloradans expected to line up in time to buy 2016 health insurance by the midnight Sunday, Jan. 31, deadline.

Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s health insurance Marketplace, and its partner organizations are hosting dozens of enrollment events throughout the state between now and the end of Open Enrollment. These events give Coloradans a chance to receive free, in-person help from certified brokers and health coverage guides.

“We know from experience that we will see a number of customers in these final days of open enrollment,” said Kevin Patterson, CEO of Connect for Health Colorado. “But I want to emphasize it is time to act. There are just a few days left for Coloradans to get covered in 2016. The penalty for going without coverage this year has increased. Don’t miss your chance to provide for your family’s health and financial security.”

The tax penalty for not having coverage is expected to average nearly $1,000 per household, depending on income in 2016.

Open enrollment for this year ends Jan. 31. That will be the last chance for most Coloradans to sign up and protect their family budget with health insurance. After that date, only those who experience a life change event – such as, marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, losing insurance provided through a job – can buy their own insurance.

Customers who would like free expert help have four easy options:

• Find an event near you on the Connect for Health Colorado’s events calendar.
• Schedule to meet a broker or health coverage guide at com/person-help/.
• Drop by the downtown Denver store at 1600 California Street, which will be open from noon to 6 pm through Sunday.
• Call Connect for Health Colorado at 855-PLANS-4-YOU (855-752-6749). We are extending hours to 10 pm Friday and to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

Although open enrollment for this year ends Jan. 31, individuals and families who are shopping for new coverage because their health insurance company is no longer offering health plans in their area – or because they had a policy last year that no longer meets the minimum legal requirements – will be permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29 through a Special Enrollment Period. This includes individuals and families who purchased their 2015 health insurance on or off Connect for Health Colorado’s site.

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 assistance 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 assistance from a statewide network of certified Brokers, community-based Health Coverage Guides or Application Counselors. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

Date January 27, 2016

 

DENVER — Connect for Health Colorado® today is sending all customers their Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, or Form 1095-A, to help them complete their federal income tax filings.

The Form, which is being sent this week through the mail and being posted to clients’ Connect for Health Colorado accounts, includes information about what they paid for health insurance, what, if any, tax credit they received, and the information that was used to determine the amount of their tax credit.

All 155,000 Coloradans who purchased health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado in 2015 will receive the statements, whether they received a tax credit or not, in early February. In 2015, Coloradans received an average tax credit of $235 per month, adding up to $180 million in premiums savings as a result of Marketplace tax credits.

“We recommend our customers keep this form in a safe place with other tax documents,” said Kevin Patterson, CEO of Connect for Health Colorado. “It is very important that those individuals who received a tax credit in 2015 file their taxes; since not filing will put eligibility for future tax credits in jeopardy.”

In addition to Form 1095-A, some Coloradans will receive Form 1095-B if they or a family member received Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), or other public health coverage benefits for any part of the year.

FAQ: Form 1095-A
What is a Form 1095-A?
It is a tax form that includes:

• Information about anyone in your household who enrolled in a health plan through the Marketplace for 2015.
• How much you paid in monthly premiums to your health and/or dental plan.
• Information about a “benchmark” premium used to compute your premium tax credit.
• The amount of any advance payments of the premium tax credit that were paid to your health or dental plan on your behalf for 2015 — these payments would have lowered what you paid for your monthly premiums if you elected to receive them in advance, as many people did.

Who gets it?
If you or anyone in your household enrolled in health insurance for 2015 through Connect for Health Colorado (the Marketplace), you will receive a Form 1095-A. You will get a Form 1095-A even if you did not receive a tax credit and even if you had Marketplace coverage for only part of 2014. The information is also provided to the IRS by Connect for Health Colorado.

When will I get it?
You will receive it in the mail by early February. At the same time, a copy will be placed in the My Documents section of your Connect for Health Colorado account that you can download and print.

What if I got more than one 1095-A?

• You may get more than one Form 1095-A if anyone in your household switched plans in 2015.
• It also might happen if you had more than one policy covering people in your household during 2015 or if you enrolled in a health and dental plan.

What do I do with it?
When you get the Form 1095-A, make sure the information matches your records. Check things like the start and end dates of your coverage and the number of people in your household. If you think information on your Form 1095-A is incorrect, call 1-855-PLANS-4-YOU (855-752-6749) to find out if you need a corrected form.

You will use information from your Form 1095-A  to complete Form 8962, which you will file with your tax return to report any advanced premium tax credits you received or to claim premium tax credits. You keep the Form 1095-A for your records. You can get Form 8962 from the IRS or your tax preparer.

What if I have more questions?
If you have questions about Form 1095-A, or how your health insurance coverage affects your taxes, you can call us at 1-855-PLANS-4-YOU (1-855-752-6749). If you have questions on how to complete your taxes, you can call your local tax preparer or the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. or visitwww.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions-Home.  Additional information will accompany Form 1095-A when it is mailed to you. It’s important to wait for your 1095-A to arrive before you file your taxes and to check the information carefully.

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 assistance 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 assistance from a statewide network of certified Brokers, community-based Health Coverage Guides or Application Counselors. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

January 21, 2016

Contacts: Connect for Health Colorado, Luke Clarke, 720-496-2545, [email protected]

DENVER — Connect for Health Colorado® today issued additional information to clarify its enrollment totals in the current Open Enrollment Period.

Between the Nov. 1 beginning of Open Enrollment and January 15, 139,579 people enrolled in private health care coverage through Connect for Health Colorado® and 23,017 enrolled in dental coverage. Total enrollment for the period for both types of coverage is 142,632.  For the comparable date last year, 121,650 had enrolled in medical plans and 20,580 in dental coverage. Because many customers who buy health insurance also buy a separate dental plan, there is some overlap. Previously released enrollment totals for this open enrollment period also combined dental and medical enrollments.

Open enrollment for this year ends Jan. 31. However, individuals and families who are shopping for new coverage because their health insurance company is no longer offering health plans in their area – or because they had a policy last year that no longer meets the minimum legal requirements – will be permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29 through a Special Enrollment Period. This includes individuals and families who purchased their 2015 health insurance on or off Connect for Health Colorado’s site.

About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established in law 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 apply for tax credits to help make their insurance more affordable. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or chat from expert Customer Service Center representatives; and find in-person assistance from certified brokers and agents, community based certified Health Coverage Guides or Certified Application Counselors. In 2015, the Marketplace enrolled more than 150,000 Coloradans in private insurance and helped nearly 100,000 gain access to new tax credits that made their health coverage more affordable – all while keeping fees among the lowest in the country. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

January 19, 2016

Contacts: Connect for Health Colorado, Luke Clarke, 720-496-2545, [email protected]
Health Care Policy and Financing, Marc Williams, 303-866-3144, [email protected]

DENVER — Between Nov.1 and Jan. 15, more than 190,000 Coloradans enrolled in health coverage for 2016, either in private health insurance purchased through the state health insurance Marketplace or in Medicaid, or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), according to new data released today by Connect for Health Colorado® and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

“These enrollment figures show strong growth during this open enrollment period,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson.  “But we are now only days away from this year’s enrollment deadline for many. I strongly urge everyone who does not have health insurance provided through their employer to act right now to provide financial security for their families and to avoid a penalty that experts estimate will average nearly $1,000 per household. The final deadline for 2016 coverage for many Coloradans is Jan. 31.”

Since the Nov. 1 beginning of Open Enrollment 142,632 people enrolled in private health and dental care coverage through Connect for Health Colorado®.

In addition, the coverage gains include 45,100 in Medicaid and 2,771 in CHP+.

Open enrollment for this year ends Jan. 31. That will be the last chance for most Coloradans to sign up and protect their family budget with health insurance.

However, individuals and families who are shopping for new coverage because their health insurance company is no longer offering health plans in their area – or because they had a policy last year that no longer meets the minimum legal requirements – will be permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29  through a Special Enrollment Period. This includes individuals and families who purchased their 2015 health insurance on or off Connect for Health Colorado’s site.

Nov. 1-Jan. 15

2016 Coverage	Total	Medicaid	CHP+	Connect for Health Colorado (private insurance)
Coloradans enrolled	190,503	45,100	2,771	142,632

Key dates and deadlines for individuals and families buying private coverage

• Open Enrollment: November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016.
  • You cannot purchase health insurance after this period unless you have a qualifying life-change event, such as marriage, divorce, having a child, losing your employer-sponsored insurance, or moving to Colorado.
• Last day to enroll for 2016 coverage for those qualifying for Special Enrollment period: 29, 2016.

Medicaid and CHP+ are open to qualifying individuals year-round.

About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is a public, non-profit entity established in law 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 apply for tax credits to help make their insurance more affordable. Customers can shop online; get help by phone or chat from expert Customer Service Center representatives; and find in-person assistance from certified brokers and agents, community based certified Health Coverage Guides or Certified Application Counselors. In 2015, the Marketplace enrolled more than 150,000 Coloradans in private insurance and helped nearly 100,000 gain access to new tax credits that made their health coverage more affordable – all while keeping fees among the lowest in the country. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com

About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: The Department administers the Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus programs as well as a variety of other programs for low-income Coloradans who qualify. For more information about the department, please visit Colorado.gov/hcpf.

Jan. 13, 2016

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

DENVER – Connect for Health Colorado® announced today that thousands of Coloradans would have additional time to pick new health insurance coverage for 2016 through a Special Enrollment Period.

Individuals and families who are shopping for new health insurance coverage because their health insurance company is no longer offering health plans in their area – or because they had a policy last year that no longer meets the minimum legal requirements – will be permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29. This includes individuals and families who purchased their 2015 health insurance on or off Connect for Health Colorado’s site.

“We have worked with the state Division of Insurance and our carrier partners to give Coloradans in these particular circumstances a little more time to enroll in a health plan,” said Kevin Patterson, CEO of Connect for Health Colorado®. “But I want to remind everyone who does not have health insurance provided through their employer to enroll now to provide financial security for their family and to avoid a penalty of $695 or more.”

Those who do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period must enroll in a health plan by the end of Open Enrollment on Jan. 31, 2016. That is the last chance for most people to buy health insurance this year and avoid a tax penalty that is expected to average nearly $1,000 per household this year.

The Special Enrollment Period, through February 29 is largely offered to individuals who lost certain types of coverage:

• Those whose 2015 coverage was with the Colorado HealthOP or Access Health Colorado.
• Those who were Rocky Mountain Health Plans but are no longer in the company’s redrawn service area.
• Subscribers of “Transition” plans, which do not meet the standards of the Affordable Care Act.

For help with any health insurance enrollment, go to Connectforhealthco.com.

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 assistance 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 assistance from a statewide network of certified Brokers, community-based Health Coverage Guides or Application Counselors. For more information: www.connectforhealthco.com