Health insurance in Colorado is sold via an open market, as opposed to some states that have “guarantee issue” laws for some insurance products. As a rule, I believe this has kept the cost of health insurance in our state less expensive on average than comparable coverage in those states that mandate that health insurance coverage be offered, regardless of health.
However, a negative aspect of having an open market is that some people will not qualify due to pre-existing health issues or that they simply can not afford coverage at available rates. The staff at Colorado Health Insurance Brokers works to make our clients aware of their options if we can not find suitable coverage, regardless of the fact that we do not sell these products as part of our business. Many of the resources available to Colorado residents are listed on our website.
Of the organizations listed, CoverColorado is often the most viable option for many people. CoverColorado is a non-profit entity created by the Colorado Legislature to provide medical insurance for eligible Colorado residents who, because of a pre-existing medical condition, are unable to get coverage from private insurers.
Medicaid in Colorado provides public health insurance for families, children, pregnant women, persons who are blind or persons with disabilities and elderly Colorado residents. Coverage may be available to children from birth to 18 years old, as well as parents with dependent children. Eligibility is income based and includes categories for children, parents with dependent children as well as a separate category for children under the age of 6 and pregnant women.
Child Health Plans Plus (CHP+) is also a resource for health insurance for children and pregnant women. These plans are available as public health insurance for children and pregnant women who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, but cannot afford private health insurance.
Part of my job as a health insurance broker is to assist Colorado residents finding the best option to obtain coverage for them or thier families at the most reasonable rate. When we can not find a viable solution in standard individual and group markets, we try to let people know of these and other resources. While this is not an exhaustive list of resources and options, it does provide an idea of those that may be the most readily available.
My wife and I are 61 years old and may need some form of high risk health insurance. We have Medicaid but our income has risen to the disqualification level. We will have coverage but only till Covid crisis passes. She has lung cancer. I have a seizure disorder. Is there coverage we can get?
If you become ineligible for Health First Colorado due to an increase in income, that will trigger a 60 day Special Enrollment Period to get new ACA compliant health insurance coverage – which covers pre-existing conditions, as required by the Affordable Care Act. We can also help you get any tax credits that you may be eligible for. We can help research the insurance company network options to help find a carrier that is in-network for the most important providers and facilities. Please visit our Expert Quote page as soon possible after your come off of Medicaid, so we can help you get new coverage. Obviously, you don’t want any lapse in coverage, so the timing is critical.