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Colorado Health Insurance News

IMA Promotes Sims and Harvath to Vice Presidents (Insurance Journal)

03/10/10 10:12 pm

Denver-based IMA of Colorado Inc., a retail insurance brokerage, announced that Cathy Sims has been promoted to vice president – employee benefits, and Sandy Harvath has been promoted to ...

Colorado unemployment rate edges up to 7.4 percent (9 News Denver)

03/10/10 8:59 am

DENVER - Colorado's unemployment rate is up one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.4 percent.

International Insurance Association Names New Officers (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)

03/10/10 5:00 am

The Captive Insurance Companies Association (CICA) announced new officers today. An impressive slate of elected leaders will help direct the activities of the the only domicile-neutral captive insurance association, an organization that provides the foremost education, networking and leadership for captive and risk retention group professionals.

Health Care’s Obstacle: No Will to Cut (NYTimes.com via Yahoo! Finance)

03/10/10 4:20 am

President Obama’s health reform plan is a mixed bag for those who care about keeping down medical costs.

Video: Insurance Company Protest (San Diego 6)

03/09/10 11:17 pm

Groups calling for health care reform are turning their protests against the health insurance industry. 3/9/10

Autism insurance bill, Nick's Law (Oklahoma's NewsChannel 4)

03/09/10 4:58 pm

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A bill that would require insurance companies to cover treatment for children with autism has cleared the House of Representatives in Missouri. However, the fight continues over similar legislation in Oklahoma, called "Nick's Law." The father of 12-year-old Nick Rohde, for whom the proposed law was named, wants Oklahoma to join surrounding states on the issue.

Colorado Editorial Roundup (CBS4 Denver)

03/09/10 2:06 pm

A sampling of recent editorials from Colorado newspapers: NATIONAL: Montrose Daily Press, March 7, on health care:

Obama on the road to pitch health bill (The Washington Times)

03/09/10 3:06 am

Seeking to close the deal on a health care overhaul, President Obama is getting out of Washington, leaving the city he loves to bash and giving himself a platform to portray himself as an outsider going up against big insurance companies and their Capitol Hill lobbyists. Just about every time Mr. Obama has faced a deadline or crunch on his marquee priority, he has exchanged a White House podium ...

Health Care’s Obstacle: No Will to Cut (New York Times)

03/08/10 5:15 pm

President Obama’s health reform plan is a mixed bag, but it may be the only program passed.

Colorado, California Cities Dominate Slimmest Cities List (MedicineNet.com)

03/08/10 1:32 pm

Title: Colorado, California Cities Dominate Slimmest Cities List Category: Health News Created: 3/8/2010 11:48:00 AM Last Editorial Review: 3/8/2010 11:48:45 AM

Are you considered Uninsurable
by Colorado Health Insurance Carriers?Cover Colorado

Thankfully we live in a state that has what's called a "High Risk Pool".

CoverColorado is here for people who have been denied/declined health insurance due to a pre-existing medical condition, or who have exhausted all of their COBRA benefits. While CoverColorado is not a low income plan, this may very well be your only option if you are unable to obtain coverage elsewhere. CoverColorado cannot compete in our health insurance market so the premiums are going to be a tad higher. But in my opinion the higher premium is a small price to pay for coverage that in some states you would not even be able to get.

There is one very important catch to CoverColorado that I want you to understand. If you have not had health insurance for the last 90 days prior to applying for coverage you will not be covered for any pre-existing conditions for the first 6 months that you are on the plan. But in a worst case scenario it's still better than nothing if you have a pre-existing condition.

CoverColorado also offers a Coordination of Benefits (COB) plan to those disabled individuals under age 65 who cannot purchase Medicare supplement policies outside the open enrollment period.

Who is Eligible for CoverColorado?

Any person who has been a Resident of Colorado for at least six (6) months and who
is residing in the United States as a citizen or under a legal alien status is eligible for
coverage under the CoverColorado Plan, if able to provide evidence satisfactory to the Plan that one of the following conditions has been met:

  1.  You have applied to an Insurer for a Health Benefit Plan and:

    a. The application has been rejected or refused because of the health or medical
    condition of the applicant; or

    b. The application has been accepted, but at a premium rate exceeding the rate
    available through the CoverColorado Plan (compared to the $1,000 Deductible
    plan); or

    c. The application has been accepted with a reduction or exclusion of coverage
    for a pre-existing medical or health condition for a period exceeding six (6) months.
  2. You have had coverage under a Health Benefit Plan involuntarily terminated by an
    Insurer in Colorado for any reason other than nonpayment of a premium or
    premiums.
  3.  You have one of the medical conditions on the presumptive list of medical
    conditions. The list of medical conditions is available by calling 888-770-1120 or by
    visiting the CoverColorado web site at www.covercolorado.org.
  4.  You are a Federally Eligible Person (six-month residency requirement does not
    apply).
  5. You are HIPAA eligible

More CoverColorado Facts and Resources

At last count there were 37 states that have high risk pools such as CoverColorado. Some are good and others are pretty much worthless. In my opinion CoverColorado is one of the better ones out there.

State Health insurance risk pools are special programs created by state legislation to provide a safety net for the "medically uninsurable" population. These are people who have been denied health insurance coverage because of a pre-existing health condition, or who can only access private coverage that is restricted or has extremely high rates.

Each of the current 37 state risk pool-type programs is different. For the most part, the programs operate as a state-created nonprofit Association overseen by a board of directors made up of industry, consumer and state insurance department representatives. The board contracts with an established insurance company to collect premiums and pay claims and administer the program on a day-to-day basis. High Risk Pool Insurance benefits vary from state to state with Colorado being near the top for benefits; the lesser  risk pools typically offer benefits that are comparable to basic private market plans -- 80/20 major medical and outpatient coverage, a choice of deductible and co-payments. Maximum lifetime benefits vary by state from as low as $350,000 to $2 million.