To Our Valued Stakeholders,

Trust is essential to the work we do—particularly when it comes to outreach in communities of color. 

February is Black History Month, and last week on Colorado & Company, I sat down with Dr. Brandi Freeman, president-elect of the National Medical Association and a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado, for a discussion about how Black Americans experience health care. 

We talked with Tory Shulman about the importance of understanding Black history in health care and Black health disparities, as well as ways we meet communities of color where they are. (Watch our segment on YouTube.)

It was an opportunity for me to reflect on the significance of the work we—all of us—do together, guiding our neighbors through processes that can feel overwhelming. 

From our team to our community partners and our network of trained, certified Assisters and health insurance Brokers, we’re letting people know that they’re not in this alone—and we recognize that their trust must be earned. 

Commitment requires action, and that’s why our presence in Black communities and communities of color is important outside of open enrollment. Year-round, we remain steady partners, and ensure people have the help they need to get and stay covered. 

Over the last 14 months, we worked alongside organizations to support two community-led initiatives that prioritize health resources for Black communities. 

We supported the Colorado Black Health Collaborative to publish the fifth edition of the Colorado Black Health Resource Directory, a free, trusted source of reliable information for people seeking treatment from Black medical professionals. And in October, we co-hosted with the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work the Black Health Summit, a free community event focused on advancing conversations around access, affordability, and choice in healthcare.  

We’re also proud to support community partners like the Center for African American Health, which will host its 25th annual Health Expo on March 28, bringing essential health resources directly to the community. Save the date for the expo and learn more at CAAHealth.org. 

These kinds of community-led initiatives keep us engaged year-round, establishing us as a trusted partner in health care. That’s how we support communities—not just during open enrollment or Black History Month, but every day of the year.

Voices of Rural Colorado

Last week, I spoke at Club 20’s Voices of Rural Colorado event, and talked with folks about health coverage, rising premiums, and expired federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits. I shared a few observations from open enrollment with them, namely the rise in costs and dip in enrollment we saw in rural areas and with adults 55 and older. 

For our friends on the Western Slope, those numbers represent real people—their neighbors, forced to make tough choices between their health coverage and groceries, gas, or their mortgage payments. 

Leaders in Club 20 are often the first to hear when issues affect their neighbors; when hospitals are under strain, clinics close, or folks can’t figure out how to navigate their health care options. That’s why our partnership with Club 20 is so important. Our work is deeply connected, and I leave those gatherings energized, and with a renewed sense of commitment to protecting affordable access to health care for our rural neighbors. We are increasing our rural outreach to include more county fairs and rodeos around the state to serve these communities in the coming year.

Colorado Connect 2025 Annual Report

In 2025, more than 13,700 people enrolled in health coverage on Colorado Connect, our public benefit corporation. This included approximately 11,400 individuals who were eligible for the Silver Enhanced Savings subsidy, and 2,400 individuals who paid full price for their health insurance premiums. 

Through these enrollments, Colorado Connect continues to supplement our mission—to increase access, affordability, and choice for individuals and small employers purchasing quality health insurance in Colorado.

Read more about Colorado Connect’s 2025 enrollment in our Colorado Connect annual report.

SMART Act Hearing

Last week, I represented Connect for Health Colorado before the legislature for a State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) Government Act hearing. 

I emphasized that we’re in a period of significant transition, particularly following the expiration of enhanced Premium Tax Credits—and I expressed extreme gratitude for the coordinated state action on Colorado Premium Assistance, which helped stabilize and make coverage more affordable for many Coloradans. 

In 2025, we supported more than 300 outreach events and presentations across the state, with a strong focus on underinsured communities. 

I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done together, and the commitment we demonstrate to keeping our neighbors informed and covered. 

Take care, 

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