We formally launched a Special Enrollment Period in the making since the 2020 legislative session – Tax Time Enrollment.

This state law allows Coloradans to check a box on their state tax return that they are uninsured and interested in finding out if they qualify for free or low-cost health coverage. After checking the box, residents will get a letter outlining the steps to see if they qualify for financial help on the Marketplace, or if they are eligible for insurance through Health First Colorado.

I am proud of all the efforts of our staff, and the coordination with state partners, such as the Department of Revenue and the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing, to make sure every Coloradan has the opportunity to enroll in affordable coverage.

In addition to Tax Time Enrollment, we are currently open through March 16 for those who need help through our Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period.

So, if you know of anyone who still needs to get covered for the year, please remind them that financial help is available to more Coloradans than ever this year. And if they want help enrolling, our network of Brokers and Assisters are able to walk through the process with them.

In the News

El Semanario (page 13) shared more about our Tax Time Special Enrollment Period.

Take care, 

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

It was an honor to be joined by U.S. Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, as well as Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway during a press conference to share the news that nearly 200,000 Coloradans enrolled during our most recent Open Enrollment period.

I am thrilled we were able to help so many people get affordable health coverage for the year and continue to remind everyone there is still an opportunity to get enrolled through our Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period. I appreciate the support of our senators — and all of you — in helping us remind people that it isn’t too late to enroll. In these times of the pandemic and with the loss of homes in Boulder County, we want to make sure anyone still without coverage has time to get covered.  

As a reminder, we have plenty of free enrollment assistance – our Brokers, Assisters and Enrollment Centers are open to helping people through the process.

Joint Health Committee Presentation  

Yesterday, I presented at a Joint Colorado House Health Committee Hearing, sharing more about what we accomplished in the last year, as well as reminding policymakers about our current enrollment opportunities. It’s always a pleasure to talk about our work under the dome.

In the News

Southern Colorado News Station KOAA and Patch covered the news of our enrollment numbers and news about the Disaster Special Enrollment Period.

Take care, 

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

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, our friends and neighbors who find themselves affected by the recent Marshall Fire and the ongoing pandemic remain on the minds of the entire Connect for Health Colorado team. We are committed to doing what we can to help, given these unfortunate circumstances.

To do so, we worked with the Colorado Division of Insurance and our issuer partners to open a Disaster Relief Special Enrollment Period just after Open Enrollment ended last weekend, to give uninsured Coloradans extra time to make sure they get the coverage they need for the year.  

Thank you for spreading the word about this extra opportunity to find affordable coverage options for the year.

Talking with Rural Health and Health Policy Partners

This time of year, with the legislative session starting allows me an opportunity to get out and talk to many of our partners. I enjoyed some time this week at the Voices of Rural Colorado, meeting with leaders from across the state during this joint conference hosted by Action 22, Club 20 and Pro15.

I am also speaking today on a panel about health coverage enrollment trends and affordability.

I appreciate these chances to talk about the work we do at Connect for Health Colorado and listen to what is going on both in rural communities and the health policy space.  

In the News

Kaiser Health News and the Denver Post helped us get the word out about this new Special Enrollment Period.

Take care, 

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

This is it. We are down to the final few days of the formal Open Enrollment Period for plan year 2022. We officially close our doors tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 15. Since our deadline falls on a holiday weekend, I’ve asked our assisters, brokers and our Customer Service Center to note that we will offer an in-line extension through next Wednesday so they can continue supporting anyone who needs help finishing their enrollment. We truly hope everyone who needs to be covered, especially during these pandemic times, has the opportunity to get their coverage for the year. As such, we are happy to announce that more than 190,000 Coloradans have secured coverage, and will report out our final numbers in the coming weeks. To help get the word out about the deadline, we have continued our push on social media. Governor Polis leant his voice in reminding Coloradans as well. I also had a great conversation with good friend and activist Brother Jeff Fard this week.

Other Happenings
We also published our 2021 Annual Report, which showcases all of the work we accomplished in the past year. I am so proud of our staff for all the work to continue to work toward our mission of access, affordability and choice for Coloradans. Lastly, Colorado’s lawmakers got back to work this week, as the 2022 legislative session got underway. We are beginning to track and monitor health care bills and I will share periodic updates about relevant legislation as the session goes on. 

This is it. We are down to the final few days of the formal Open Enrollment Period for plan year 2022. We officially close our doors tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 15. Since our deadline falls on a holiday weekend, I’ve asked our assisters, brokers and our Customer Service Center to note that we will offer an in-line extension through next Wednesday so they can continue supporting anyone who needs help finishing their enrollment. We truly hope everyone who needs to be covered, especially during these pandemic times, has the opportunity to get their coverage for the year. As such, we are happy to announce that more than 190,000 Coloradans have secured coverage, and will report out our final numbers in the coming weeks. To help get the word out about the deadline, we have continued our push on social media. Governor Polis leant his voice in reminding Coloradans as well. I also had a great conversation with good friend and activist Brother Jeff Fard this week.

Other Happenings
We also published our 2021 Annual Report, which showcases all of the work we accomplished in the past year. I am so proud of our staff for all the work to continue to work toward our mission of access, affordability and choice for Coloradans. Lastly, Colorado’s lawmakers got back to work this week, as the 2022 legislative session got underway. We are beginning to track and monitor health care bills and I will share periodic updates about relevant legislation as the session goes on. 

Hope you all are staying warm in these early January days. Even though we are just a week into 2022, it feels like we are busier than ever.

This week, we shared the news that more than 185,000 Coloradans enrolled in health insurance for this year. That is an 8 percent increase over last year at this time, but, we aren’t done yet. As a reminder, our doors are open through next Saturday, Jan. 15 for residents to get covered for the year.

To that end, we need your help reminding your community, constituents, neighbors and colleagues, that there is about one week left to make sure they have the peace of mind of being covered and having their health and finances protected.

More people than ever before qualify for affordable plans; and if people need help enrolling, our network of brokers, assisters and enrollment centers are standing by available to help. There are also a few enrollment events on the calendar.

I know I speak for so many Coloradans when I say that our hearts are with our friends and neighbors impacted by last week’s tragic Marshall Fire. We are exploring the best way that we can support those impacted, we will share more in the coming days.

Thanks for all that you are doing to help us get Coloradans covered!

Take care, 

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

While Open Enrollment remains our main focus, I wanted to also take a moment before the holidays and say thank you. Wow. It’s hard to believe all that we accomplished in 2021. We worked diligently to ensure as many Coloradans as possible could enroll in health insurance coverage to protect their health and finances during this second year of the pandemic. We kept our doors open for nearly eight months, implemented new financial help rules in the customer application (pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act) and enrolled more residents in coverage than any previous year of the Exchange’s operation. And we did all of that with the help of our enrollment partners, staff and you. It takes a village.

That said, there is still time for Coloradans to get 2022 coverage. Our doors stay open through January 15, for anyone who needs to get covered. We are seeing many Coloradans get extra savings this year thanks to the American Rescue Plan, so please continue to remind your communities that they can likely find an affordable option.

Lastly, we published a report about the work we are doing to establish our public benefit corporation, Colorado Connect. I look forward to sharing more about its mission in the coming year.

This week, we had a big push to get Coloradans covered by the Dec. 15 deadline. To encourage everyone to get signed up for Jan. 1 coverage, we declared Dec. 8 a day of action, Get Covered Colorado Day. We got the word out through social media posts, asked our stakeholders to join us with messages of their own and hosted a Facebook Live conversation with Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera along with members of our Assistance Network.  There are just a few days left before the deadline, so please remind people to sign up, or use the enrollment help we have available if they want help picking a plan. Our Brokers, Assisters and Enrollment Centers are ready to help, and our Customer Service Center has extended hours through next Wednesday. 

In the News
Several news outlets shared the news about Get Covered Day, from Longmont Leader and KRDO in the Springs to Real Vail and the Aspen Daily News. 

As we prepare for a holiday week ahead, we aren’t slowing down our efforts to get Coloradans enrolled. Both our staff and our enrollment partners are making great strides to help people pick a plan and get covered this Open Enrollment period. It’s important that people in every corner of the state know about the extra savings available, and the importance of getting covered, especially with pandemic at the current levels in our state.  

From Carbondale, Montrose and Ouray to Denver, Estes Park and Aurora, our enrollment partners are hosting both in-person and virtual events across the state. You can point people to our website to find an event for help enrolling.  

Our outreach team also is finding great ways to spend time talking to people at events across the state and strengthening partnerships with community organizations. For example, we are reaching young entrepreneurs in Denver through the Mile High Young Professionals group; focusing on small businesses through partnering with the Small Business Majority, the Southern Colorado Small Business Development Center and the Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce; and talking with the state’s LGBTQIA community through One Colorado, the Big Holigay Bazaar and the Transgender Center of the Rockies.  

At this time of gratitude, I really appreciate all that our staff, partners, Assisters and Brokers are doing to get Coloradans enrolled. Thank you.