Colorado Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Colorado?

Colorado fell three spots from the 16th healthiest state in 2007 to #19 this year, according to a 2008 study by the United Health Foundation. The change came despite the fact that the state held steady in most categories of measurement.

The good news:

• The state has the best rating for prevalence of obesity, had the third best rate of cancer deaths and fourth best rating for cardiovascular deaths.
• Colorado had the sixth best rating for air quality.
• Since 1990, the percentage of children in poverty has dropped from nearly 22 percent to 12.6 percent.

The bad news:

• Nearly 17 percent of the state's population lacks health insurance.

The state's best and worst category ratings:

• Prevalence of obesity – 1st
• Poor physical health days – 4th
• Cardiovascular deaths – 4th
• Preventable hospitalizations – 6th
• Air pollution – 6th
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 9th
• Geographic disparity – 48th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Colorado.

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Does Colorado have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

CoverColorado
(303) 863-1960 or toll-free 1-866-787-9129 (M-F 8am–5pm)

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the poolto keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Find more on risk pools here.

Mini-meds a guaranteed-issue option for those who are medically uninsurable

An option for the medically uninsurable is a guaranteed-issue mini-med health insurance plan. There is no underwriting and no health questions are asked.

These plans provide basic coverage but are not designed to help with catastrophic expenses. They can often count as creditable coverage, eliminating the waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you later move to an employer-based plan. Read more here.

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Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Colorado

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Colorado and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Colorado.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

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USNews health insurance rankings for Colorado

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Colorado.

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Official State Goverment Sites with Colorado Health Insurance Information

State of Colorado Division of Insurance -- The State of Colorado's department of insurance provides official information all types of insurance.

Having trouble resolving a claims dispute with your health insurance company? You can file a complaint with this online complaint form, or write:

Colorado Division of Insurance
1560 Broadway, Suite 850
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303.894.7499 OR 800.930.3745

Colorado coverage for children and pregnant women-- Child Health Plan Plus is a low-cost health insurance program for uninsured Colorado children ages 18 and under whose families earn or own too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. The CHP+ Prenatal Care Program offers free health insurance to uninsured Colorado pregnant women who live in households that meet certain income requirements.

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing -- The state agency responsible for the administration of the Medicaid program, Child Health Plan Plus, and the Colorado Indigent Care program, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Department of Insurance 2004 Complaint Ratios of Insurance Companies (most recent statistics available) -- PDF documents outlining the number of consumer complaints lodged against insurance companies.

Information about Medicaid in Colorado -- General Questions about Health Care and Medicaid, Medicaid and Managed Care and questions regarding the Web Portal Application

Colorado Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) -- provides free counseling for Medicare beneficiaries with questions about Medicare.

Colorado Medicaid Medicaid is the government program to help poor and indigent get health care services. Pregnant women and children 18 and under who meet income requirements may be eligible for Medicaid, as well as the aged, blind and disabled.

Federal Government sites with specific Colorado Information

National Mental Health Information Centers listing of Colorado Mental Health Resources published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services

Colorado population statistics from the US Census Bureau, 2000 Census.

Colorado Health Insurance, Health Care and Consumer Advocacy

A consumer's guide to getting and keeping health insurance in Colorado -- Links to Georgetown University's guide to health insurance in Colorado in PDF form, last updated January 2006.

Health Care for All Colorado -- is a Colorado nonprofit organization working for universal health care under a single-payer system for all people living in Colorado.

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Health Care Advocacy Groups in Colorado

Colorado Progressive Action – Colorado Progressive Action has joined with hundreds of nurses, doctors, small business owners, faith-based groups, people of color organizations, women's groups, and seniors to demand and win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for everyone. Through the Health Care for America Now! Campaign, CPA is mobilizing communities to ensure that the first order of business for the new President and Congress in 2009 will be to pass health care legislation that guarantees quality, affordable health care for all. CPA is also calling for regulation on health insurance companies, who should no longer be allowed to put their profits before Americans' health.