Enrollment Season for Health Insurance Continues Through January 15th
Coloradans Can Still Enroll in 2023 Coverage
DENVER— As of January 4th, more than 188,000 Coloradans have signed up for a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, during the annual Open Enrollment period. This is approximately 2,300 enrollments ahead of the same day last year. 75 percent of customers applying are qualifying for financial help to reduce the cost of their insurance.
But there is still time to enroll. With the enrollment deadline approaching on January 15, 2023, Coloradans have less than two weeks left to choose a plan for coverage that will start on February 1, 2023.
Thousands of Residents Have Used the Marketplace to Enroll in 2023 Health Insurance
DENVER— This Thursday, December 8, is Get Covered Colorado Day. This day of action encourages as many Coloradans as possible to enroll in 2023 health coverage during the annual Open Enrollment Period, which runs through January 15. In the first five weeks of this year’s Open Enrollment, approximately 145,000 residents enrolled in a plan through Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado.
Seeing how Connect4HealthCO announced 57.5K enrollees just 6 days ago, it's pretty safe to assume that they didn't have over 87,000 more Coloradans suddenly enroll in less than a week. Presumably the 145K figure includes auto-renewals of the remaining current enrollees who haven't actively signed up for a 2023 policy yet.
DENVER— Since November 1, more than 57,500 people have used Connect for Health Colorado’s marketplace to enroll in a health insurance plan. That’s 7,000 enrollments ahead of the same time period last year. Approximately 78 percent of those who have enrolled so far are qualifying for financial help that reduces the cost of plans.
Connect for Health Colorado’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Patterson, released the following statement:
“I’m so pleased that people are getting covered early in the enrollment period and that we’re continuing to see enrollment growth year over year. That tells me that our marketplace is giving people the options they’re looking for, at prices that are within their budget. For those who are waiting to sign up, I urge that you make an appointment with an enrollment specialist and enroll by December 15 to begin the new year with peace of mind.”
One of the most inane restrictions of the ACA in my view, as I noted in my "If I Ran the Zoo" wish list back in 2017, is that it doesn't allow undocumented immigrants to enroll in ACA marketplace health plans ("Qualified Health Plans" or QHPs).
I don't just mean that they aren't eligible for federal financial subsidies--that's a prohibition which I can at least understand, even if I don't agree with it. I mean that they aren't allowed to enroll in ACA exchange-based QHPs even at full price, as noted in Section 1312(f)(3):
(3) Access limited to lawful residents.--If an individual is not, or is not reasonably expected to be for the entire period for which enrollment is sought, a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully present in the United States, the individual shall not be treated as a qualified individual and may not be covered under a qualified health plan in the individual market that is offered through an Exchange.
Insurance Brokers and Enrollment Assisters Available across Colorado
DENVER— One way the state’s health insurance Marketplace serves Colorado’s health coverage needs is by providing a diverse network of experts who can help residents enroll in the best plan for them – and who can help for free any time of the year.
These experts are Connect for Health Colorado-certified Insurance Brokers and Enrollment Assisters, and they live and work everywhere across the state.
“Our certified experts are a valuable source of support for Coloradans,” said Connect for Health Colorado’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Patterson. “But they don’t just provide enrollment services; they offer a continuum of assistance. I encourage anyone who needs health insurance help to use a Connect for Health Colorado Assistance Site. We’re here to help you navigate anything that changes your situation, so that you can stay covered.”
DENVER— Today, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. In addition to tackling issues such as climate change, health care and prescription drug costs, the legislation will extend the expansion of Affordable Care Act marketplace premium tax credits through 2025.
Connect for Health Colorado’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Patterson, released the following statement:
New Program Connecting Tax Filers to Health Coverage Ends April 15
DENVER— Colorado’s new Tax Time Enrollment Program that connects uninsured tax filers to health coverage is coming to a close this Friday, April 15. Due to a state law passed in 2020, this tax season was the first in which residents could mark on their Colorado tax form that they were uninsured and interested in getting connected to coverage with Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace.
Federal and State Health Insurance Subsidies Boosted Enrollments on Colorado’s Exchange
Record number of Coloradans enrolled during the annual enrollment period
DENVER— In a report released today, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, attributes record enrollments this past Open Enrollment Period to federal and state policy changes making health coverage more affordable.
DENVER— Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, is accepting applications from new and returning organizations, as well as licensed Brokers, to operate Assistance Sites and Enrollment Centers across the state.
“Assistance Sites and Enrollment Centers provide a crucial one-on-one service to help Coloradans get covered,” said Connect for Health Colorado’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Patterson. “They help us make sure local communities, especially those who face barriers to health coverage, can access the plans and savings we offer. I encourage interested organizations and current partners to apply for this opportunity.”
Thousands of Coloradans Are Using Special Enrollment Periods to Sign Up for Health Insurance
Uninsured Residents Can Enroll in Health Coverage Now
DENVER – The state’s official health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, reports that more than 6,000 Coloradans have signed up for a health insurance plan since the annual enrollment period closed mid-January using Special Enrollment Periods; about 1,000 enrollments per week. That brings Colorado’s total marketplace enrollments for the 2022 coverage year to nearly 205,000; a milestone that Connect for Health Colorado didn’t see until July last year.
