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

This week, I wrapped up my annual presentations to the House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee and the Senate Health & Human Services Committee about 2021 enrollments and what’s ahead for Connect for Health Colorado. It’s a great opportunity to speak directly with policy makers and talk about the good work the staff, plus our Brokers, Assisters and community partners, do to help Coloradans stay covered.

Speaking of getting covered, we just shared that 17,000 more Coloradans have enrolled in a health insurance plan since we re-opened enrollment twelve weeks ago. I’m pleased that so many people are taking advantage of the extended enrollment period, as well as the additional savings we’re now providing.

I’m also extremely proud to share that Connect for Health Colorado has been recognized as one of The Denver Post’s Top Workplaces of 2021. It’s our staff and leadership team who make us worthy of this honor. It’s my privilege to lead this group and to create the right environment for us to deliver on our mission.

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

We announced yesterday that we are now ready to offer Coloradans more tax credits on their health plans. Because of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, more Coloradans will be eligible for savings on their health plans, with additional financial help now available. The American Rescue Plan also lets us provide $0 and low-cost premium options to households in which someone has received any weekly unemployment benefits in 2021. This is good news for Coloradans struggling with their bills who still want to be covered.

As a reminder, our doors are now open until at least Aug. 15 for those who need coverage for this year.

Also this week, I enjoyed talking to the Colorado House Health and Insurance Committee about our accomplishments thus far, and our preparation for enrollments beginning today. I look forward to talking with the Senate Health and Human Services Committee later this session. It is always a pleasure to share our work with state policymakers.

Stay warm through our winter-like weather this weekend and thanks for all that you do to help us spread the word.

Be well, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer

At this time of year, usually what keeps us busy is wrapping up all the data from our last enrollment period. We are happy to provide that data through our By the Numbers report. This year we decided to take the report in a new, more virtual direction. We added new sections including an interactive media library and statewide maps to help you understand the impact of our work in your community. I thank my Marketing team for getting creative, and encourage you to take a look.

In addition to the report, we also shared that nearly 10,000 additional Coloradans have enrolled since Feb. 8, when we reopened a Special Enrollment Period.  

If that isn’t enough excitement, we are in the final stages of preparing to offer Coloradans more tax credits and extra savings on their health plans, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

The Plan aligns with our mission of providing affordable health coverage in Colorado. We are pleased with the opportunity to keep our doors open to new customers and allow them to save on plans for this year, as well as offer more tax credits to current customers. Our systems will be ready for enrollment starting April 15. We will remain open until at least Aug. 15 and will share updates about those additional savings as enrollment continues in the coming months.

Thank you to all of our enrollment partners, as they get ready to help new and current customers take advantage of the savings.

Be well, 

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

It is hard to believe that one year ago, Connect for Health Colorado staff were packing up for what we thought might be a few weeks of remote work. We were all letting the news sink in that an actual pandemic was upon us. It was nearly impossible then to predict the year of lives lost and daily sacrifices we have all experienced since.

But as we pass this grim milestone, there is good news on the horizon. It is a relief to see Covid-19 case numbers falling and vaccine rates rising. And, some big news to help those struggling: the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 has been signed into law.

The Colorado Sun recently shared how the Plan will bring assistance to many Coloradans. In the health care realm, the changes to the Advanced Premium Tax Credit structure will provide much more access to financial help on health plans through the Marketplace, and it will increase the number of people who are eligible to receive this help.

Read the statement I made about how the Plan will make health insurance more accessible and affordable. We are working through the details of implementing the law and will share more regarding how Coloradans can see these savings in the coming months.

Reflecting on this anniversary, I am thankful that we have been able to get people covered and keep them covered. Our doors are open through May 15 for anyone who is not covered through our Uninsured Enrollment Period. We announced earlier this week that more than 4,000 people have enrolled so far.

We have a stakeholder toolkit available for you to help us get the word out about this enrollment period. Thank you for using these flyers and social media posts to help get people covered now.

Be well, 

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

To wrap up the last week of Black History Month, I participated in an interview with Denver’s DJKTONE for his Black Excellence Series on Instagram Live Wednesday evening. In addition, Connect for Health Colorado is presenting during the Center for African American Health’s Collaborative Black Health Summit this Friday and Saturday.

Nationally, we are closely following the proposed American Rescue Plan as Congress debates its provisions. The current draft of the Plan includes proposed changes to the Advanced Premium Tax Credit structure, which could drastically increase the amount of financial help available, as well as the number of people eligible to receive these benefits. Our staff is reviewing the plan closely and taking early steps to make sure we are ready to implement these changes, should the bill pass.

Meanwhile, we are continuing to remind any Coloradans who are not insured that they have the opportunity to enroll through our Uninsured Enrollment Period. Thank you for continuing to spread the word.

Be well, 

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