Connect for Health Colorado® Clarifies Enrollment Gains

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

Connect for Health Colorado® and Colorado Medicaid Report Enrollment Gains of More Than 190,000

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 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.

Special Enrollment Period Gives Thousands of Coloradans More Time to Enroll through Connect for Health Colorado®

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

Connect for Health Colorado® and Colorado Medicaid Report Enrollment Gains of More Than 169,000

January 5, 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 Dec. 31, more than 169,000 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.

“We are very happy with the enrollment growth during the first two months of this open enrollment period,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson. “But I want to urge everyone who does not have health insurance provided through their employer to act now to provide financial security for their families and to avoid a penalty of nearly $695 or more. The final deadline for 2016 coverage –Jan. 31 – is fast approaching.”

Since the Nov. 1 beginning of Open Enrollment 132,263 people enrolled in private health care coverage through Connect for Health Colorado®.

In addition, the coverage gains include 35,269 in Medicaid and 2,031 in CHP+.

“It’s encouraging to see such strong enrollment numbers for Connect for Health Colorado,” said Sue Birch, MBA, BSN, RN, executive director, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. “It’s critically important for all Coloradans to apply for health insurance by January 31st for the health and well-being of themselves and their families.”

Nov. 1-Dec. 31

2016 Coverage

Total

Medicaid

CHP+

Connect for Health Colorado (private health insurance)

Coloradans enrolled

169,563

35,269

2,031

132,263

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 coverage beginning January 1, 2016, is December 15, 2015. You must pay your first-month’s bill by December 25.
Last day to enroll for 2016 coverage (absent a life change event): January 31, 2016.

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

Connect for Health Colorado® Announces Second Sign-up Extension for January Coverage

December, 22, 2015

Contact: Luke Clarke 720-496-2545

DENVER – Connect for Health Colorado® has announced a second extension – to midnight Saturday, Dec. 26 – of the deadline to enroll in health insurance coverage beginning January 1, after seeing a large number of last minute enrollments and a heavy snowstorm on the original deadline.

That means Coloradans can still get coverage through the state health insurance Marketplace for all of 2016 if they act by Saturday. More than 116,000 Coloradans had enrolled in 2016 coverage by the original Dec. 15 deadline, when the first extension was put in place. But demand remains high and Connect for Health Colorado has decided to institute a second, final extension through the end of the week.

For help enrolling, go to Connectforhealthco.com

About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado® and Colorado Medicaid Report Enrollment Gains Topping 145,000

December 16, 2015

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 Dec. 15, more than 145,000 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.

“We have seen solid gains during the first month and a half of this Open Enrollment,” said Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Kevin Patterson. “The record number of customers signing up in the last week has led us to extend the deadline through Thursday to enroll for Jan. 1 coverage. 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 nearly $695 or more.”

Open Enrollment began November 1. Since then, 116,394 people enrolled in private health care coverage through Connect for Health Colorado®. Due to the heavy volume of customers enrolling and inclement weather on Dec. 15, Connect for Health Colorado is extending the deadline to Thursday, Dec. 17, to enroll in coverage effective Jan. 1.

In addition, the coverage gains include 27,341 in Medicaid and 1,448 in CHP+.

“Today’s enrollment numbers demonstrate that Coloradans recognize the importance and value of having health coverage,” said Sue Birch, MBA, BSN, RN, executive director, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. “We encourage our members to utilize the preventive services covered by Medicaid to ensure a healthy holiday season and throughout the new year.”

Nov. 1-Dec. 15

2016 Coverage

Total

Medicaid

CHP+

Connect for Health Colorado (private health insurance)

Coloradans enrolled

145,183

27,341

1,448

116,394

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 coverage beginning January 1, 2016, is December 15, 2015. You must pay your first-month’s bill by December 25.
Last day to enroll for 2016 coverage (absent a life change event): January 31, 2016.

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

Statement from Connect for Health Colorado® Interim CEO Gary Drews on Open Enrollment

CONTACT:
Curtis Hubbard, [email protected], 303-908-2378

«Connect for Health Colorado just concluded its second open-enrollment period, a three-month span in which we enrolled about 140,000 Coloradans in private health insurance.

You may have seen media reports claiming this number failed to meet our expectations. While we know that we can always do better, I think it’s important at this juncture — particularly given how hard our staff, our Brokers, our Health Coverage Guides, our Carrier partners and other key stakeholders worked on behalf of our customers over the last three months — to set the record straight.

Earlier this year, as part of our regular budgeting forecast, we developed a range of projections for total enrollments for year-end 2015 — the mid-range of which was 194,277. Again, it’s important to note that this is a year-end projection.

For context, remember that, at the end of open enrollment in April of 2014, Connect for Health Colorado had enrolled 128,000 customers. Each month after, we continued to enroll a significant number of Coloradans (4,000 per month average) who experienced life change events — taking our total for the calendar year to more than 150,000 enrollments.

As of February 19 we had 139,652 enrollees —a 9% increase over the first open enrollment period, which lasted twice as long. Less than 2 months into this year, we are at 72% of the mid-range, year-end goal.

We will be paying close attention to enrollment and other data in coming months as we develop our 2016 budget, and will keep you all advised on additional developments.»

Gary Drews
Interim CEO
Connect for Health Colorado

A Statement from Connect for Health Colorado® CEO Gary Drews on the Colorado State Auditor’s Limited Performance Audit

Connect for Health Colorado® leadership and staff take their stewardship of public dollars very seriously and agree with the guidance from the State Auditor’s Office.

A number of federal and state agencies have closely and continuously monitored us since 2011. They have approved our operations, policies and procedures while we worked to create a new enterprise in a complex, evolving environment, under tight deadlines and shifting federal regulations.

We welcome the input and the transparency. All of the more than two dozen federal and independent audits and reviews have brought tremendous value to us as a start-up, and we have implemented their recommendations to improve the organization. Although the tone and content of the state audit differ from previous reviews, we agree with the recommendations. We have already implemented many changes and have committed to adopting all of them.

Over the past year, starting the day we opened our doors to the public on October 1, 2013, our staff and partners have been working to achieve an ambitious mission. Our success is evident in the 160,000 customers we have connected to effective health insurance and robust participation in the Marketplace by health and dental plans in Colorado.

We feel we have accomplished a great deal and that there is still room for improvement. We will continue working with our Board, the Legislative Implementation Review Committee, our state partners, and our stakeholder groups to ensure ongoing, sound management.

OPEN ENROLLMENT IS HERE: A message from CEO Gary Drews

This headline is no surprise to the thousands of you who have been working so hard over the past year to get Coloradans covered and looking for this next period. We’ve said many times that changing the lives of Coloradans will be a marathon, not a sprint. But, you have already played a pivotal role in significantly reducing the numbers of uninsured in our state – fifth biggest drop in the nation!

Look with immense pride at the positive impacts you’ve had on more than 300,000 people who in 2014 obtained private health insurance through the Marketplace or enrolled in the newly expanded Medicaid.

Far more than numbers, they include Joaquin, who went to a doctor for the first time in years and discovered he had Type II diabetes and that he needed to make changes for his health. Or Marty, who is a graduate student and rafting guide who knows he needs regular checkups to guard against skin cancer. And Shirley, who retired from teaching and needed something affordable to stay covered. Or Lee, who uses his own experience of being hospitalized after a serious accident to encourage others in his mountain community to get enrolled.

The stories are told in every county of our state – people who are benefiting from the increased access, choice and affordability that Connect for Health Colorado offers to those seeking health insurance.

As we enter this historic second enrollment period, I want to thank you for what you’ve done and what you are about to do as we strive to move our state toward better health. And I want to assure you that Connect for Health Colorado has been working diligently to get the Marketplace ready – and better – for Coloradans.

We have worked closely with our partners at Health Care Policy and Financing to provide a single eligibility system so all customers applying for financial assistance will have just one application to complete to see if they are eligible for state coverage or a tax credit to reduce the cost of private insurance.

This Open Enrollment we will be introducing several new tools on our website to help consumers better understand their options and assist them through their decisions. Our network of certified Health Coverage Guides and Agent/Brokers has already begun helping customers compare their choices for 2015 plans. And, our Customer Service Center is ready to serve Coloradans who want help through the enrollment process.

By the numbers, the Marketplace this year has:

15 insurers offering 176 individual health plans; 120 small group plans; 16 individual dental plans; and 10 small group dental plans
More than 200 Customer Service Representatives
54 Certified Assistance Sites
450 Certified Health Coverage Guides
155 Certified Application Counselors
1,600 Certified Agents/Brokers

I thank you in advance for your dedication and commitment to the people of Colorado.

Warmly,
Gary Drews
Interim CEO

Connect for Health Colorado Board Selects New Officers

DENVER (July 14, 2014) – At its annual meeting today, the Connect for Health Colorado® Board of Directors unanimously elected Sharon O’Hara, Executive Vice President of the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, as the new Chair. O’Hara has been a board member since 2013 and replaces outgoing Chair Gretchen Hammer, who will continue to serve on the Board.

Also re-elected unanimously were Arnold Salazar, Executive Director of Colorado Health Partnerships, as Vice Chair, and Mike Fallon, MD, an emergency physician at North Colorado Medical Center, as Board Secretary.

Other board members include Gretchen Hammer, Executive Director of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved; Richard Betts, owner of ASAP Accounting & Payroll Inc.; Ellen Daehnick of Helliemae’s Handcrafted Caramels; Steve ErkenBrack, President of Rocky Mountain Health Plans; Eric Grossman, President & CEO of NextHealth Technologies; and Nathan Wilkes, founder of Headstorms, Inc. Ex-officio (non-voting) members are Susan Birch, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing; Kevin Patterson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Gov. John Hickenlooper; and Marguerite Salazar, Commissioner of Insurance.

In accepting the position, O’Hara praised her fellow board members for doing “six years of work in the past three years of its existence.”

“I’m proud of the success the Marketplace has had in expanding coverage for Coloradans. As we approach the next open enrollment this fall, we urge consumers to shop the new plans and rates and look for options that best fit your needs, whether you are renewing or signing up for the first time,” says O’Hara.

“We’re thankful to have someone like Sharon, who has so much experience in helping Coloradans access healthcare, take on leadership of our Board as we head into this very important next chapter and second open enrollment period,” says Connect for Health Colorado Chief Operating Officer Lindy Hinman. “Sharon has demonstrated a deep commitment to our mission of improving access, choice and affordability for Coloradans in need of health insurance.”

The Staff and Board also praised Hammer’s service.

“We’ve been so fortunate to have had Gretchen Hammer take a lead for our state as it tackled some very complicated healthcare challenges. She was instrumental in the early formation and development of the Marketplace, and helped set a very high standard for the organization as our first Board Chair,” says Connect for Health Chief Executive Officer Patty Fontneau. “I’m thrilled Gretchen will continue to serve and remains so dedicated to the ongoing success of Connect for Health Colorado.”

Hammer steps down after three years as Chair and following a successful Oct. 1, 2013 launch of the Marketplace, which has helped more than 140,000 Coloradans enroll for private health insurance.

About Connect for Health Colorado:
Through state laws, Connect for Health Colorado was established as a non-profit organization with a Colorado mission to improve choice, access and affordability to private health insurance. Just 18 months after hiring technology vendors, Colorado’s own health insurance Marketplace opened October 1, 2013, with a full shopping website and a statewide network of trained and certified experts to help customers.