Ben Davis, [email protected], 303-522-6790 (Connect for Health Colorado)
Melissa Viola, [email protected], 303-454-3768 (Piton Foundation)
DENVER, CO – The Piton Foundation and Connect for Health Colorado are partnering to provide free tax assistance and health insurance enrollment assistance to lower-income Coloradans at joint events across the state throughout February and early March. These events are happening at 21 tax sites across Colorado where 15 organizations called Assistance Sites will provide trained Health Coverage Guides to provide unbiased, in-person help to customers of Connect for Health Colorado.
A partnership between The Piton Foundation and the Colorado Community College System, Tax Help Colorado provides free tax filing services to individuals with household incomes less than $50,000 in 2013. Tax Help Colorado operates free tax sites on community college campuses across the state. At these free tax sites, IRS-certified students prepare and e-file tax returns free of charge for individuals and families. Connect for Health Colorado is intensifying outreach activities to educate Coloradans about the open enrollment deadlines and financial help that are available, based on income, to reduce the cost of commercial health insurance. Many of the people who are eligible for free tax help are also eligible for Medicaid or premium tax credits through the Marketplace. The next deadline is Feb. 15 for coverage that starts March 1. Open enrollment ends March 31.
“We are excited to partner with The Piton Foundation and Tax Help Colorado to provide Coloradans with more ways to learn about their health insurance options and apply for new financial help to reduce costs,” said Patty Fontneau, CEO of Connect for Health Colorado. “Many Coloradans who are taking advantage of the free tax assistance sites are also eligible for tax credits that can make health insurance affordable for the first time. We know that many Coloradans also want personalized help with shopping for health insurance and these events are a great way to provide that support.”
“By offering free tax assistance, Tax Help Colorado helps alleviate the financial burden of commercial tax preparation on working families while linking them to valuable tax benefits like the Earned Income Tax Credit,” said Diane DiGiacomo of The Piton Foundation. “We know that many of our tax site clients are living without health insurance, so partnering with Connect for Health Colorado to provide enrollment assistance is a great fit.”
The schedule includes the following cities: Alamosa, Aurora, Brighton, Colorado Springs, Denver, Commerce City, Durango, Fort Lupton, Fort Morgan, Greeley, La Junta, Lakewood, Mancos, Trinidad and Westminster. The complete schedule is available here. Dates and locations are subject to change. You can find all enrollment and outreach events for Connect for Health Colorado here.
The free tax sites are at community colleges and other locations that are convenient to Coloradans. The partnership involves Assistance Sites who provide certified Health Coverage Guides to participate at the tax sites and help Coloradans with their insurance questions.
Connect for Health Colorado is a new health insurance marketplace and support network that allows individuals, families and small employers to compare and purchase health insurance and access new financial assistance to reduce costs. Learn more at www.connectforhealthco.com.
The Piton Foundation sponsors the Tax Credits for Working Families Public Information Campaign and Tax Help Colorado as part of its efforts to help move Colorado families from poverty and dependence to self-sufficiency. Piton is a private foundation located in Denver, Colorado. It was established in 1976 by Denver oil man Sam Gary.
