To Our Valued Stakeholders,

I had the chance Wednesday night to voice Connect for Health Colorado’s support for HB19-1168 before the state House Health and Insurance Committee. The bill, which is sponsored by members of both parties in both chambers of the Legislature, would authorize the state insurance commissioner to apply for a state innovation waiver to allow Colorado to implement a reinsurance program to assist health insurers in paying high-cost insurance claims.

If enacted, the bill would provide significant relief on health insurance premiums in the individual market – on and off the Marketplace — particularly in rural areas. This aligns well with our mission to increase access, affordability and choice in the health insurance market. The committee voted to move the bill forward to the Appropriations Committee.

The insurance commissioner led off the conversation with this presentation.

Benefit and Payment Parameters

We signed on to a letter that all 13 state-based marketplaces sent to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters. We also submitted our own comments that aligned with the combined state comments. I believe the statement from every marketplace sends the clear message about the importance of these issues in delivering our services to customers.

In the News

9News explained how Colorado’s reinsurance would work in this report.

Take care,

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