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. 

We are off to a good start this Open Enrollment period. I am hearing that our assisters and brokers are keeping busy, and our Customer Service Center has been eagerly taking calls to help customers.

We’d appreciate your help reminding Coloradans about the extra savings that are available this year. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, more Coloradans can find savings through our Marketplace for their 2022 coverage. If customers applied in the past but were denied financial help, this year is the time to reapply. In fact, two out of three customers who applied for financial help in 2021 but didn’t qualify then could receive financial help for their 2022 plan.

I’m proud that we are able to work toward our mission of affordability and choice with the plan offerings this year.

Thanks for all that you do to help us get the work out!

On Monday, we officially opened our doors for Coloradans to enroll in 2022 health coverage.

This year, we can’t state enough that the American Rescue Plan made it more affordable for more people to get covered this year. In fact, four out of five customers can find a plan for $25 or less a month when financial help is applied. And customers who did not qualify in the past should take another look this year, as we anticipate they will see new savings available as well.

If your constituents, neighbors or friends want help enrolling, our certified Connect for Health enrollment experts located throughout Colorado are available to walk people through the process. By talking with a Broker or community-based Enrollment Assister, customers can find the coverage that suits their needs.

Don’t forget that you can find web and print versions of our marketing materials through our Open Enrollment Online Toolkit to help us spread the word.

In the News

The Telluride Daily Planet shared details about Open Enrollment and how people in San Miguel, Ouray and Montrose counties can get help enrolling. I also spoke with Ryan Warner on Colorado Matters about the extra savings and help available this year to get enrolled.

This is it! Open Enrollment is almost officially here. Our doors open on Monday morning to get Coloradans enrolled for 2022 health coverage.

As a reminder, the American Rescue Plan savings and the plan rates this year make finding an affordable plan easier than ever. We are relying on you all, our stakeholders, community partners, policy makers and friends, to help us get the word out. Encourage your communities to use our Quick Cost and Planfinder Tool to see how the plans and savings available. Free, virtual and in-person help is available from our certified Connect for Health Colorado enrollment experts located throughout the state. If anyone in the community you serve needs help, you can refer them to one of our experts to ensure they get the best health insurance coverage and financial help available to them.

We’ve also made it easy for you to share on social media or hand out flyers. Web and print versions of our resources are available through our Open Enrollment Online Toolkit and our Online Print Materials Store (materials are free).

Lastly, tune in to Colorado Public Radio Monday morning to hear my thoughts on about this Open Enrollment Period during the show Colorado Matters.