A Message from Executive Director Kim Bimestefer 

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) has grown by about 500,000 members since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s the largest increase in Health First Colorado membership since Medicaid expansion, which helped connect an additional 600,000 Coloradans to affordable coverage. In accordance with federal directives, and in collaboration with our county partners, the Department will resume the standard eligibility renewal and disenrollment process beginning this May for Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), after more than a three-year pause. The Department will take 12 months (14 months including member noticing, which begins in March) to complete the renewal process for all 1.75 million Coloradans currently covered under Health First Colorado and CHP+.

As we return to normal operations, the Department is estimating that more than 325,000 Coloradans (about 20% of current members) may no longer qualify for our safety net coverage programs, and will therefore be disenrolled beginning in May and over the 12 months that follow. Given the magnitude of this transition of Coloradans from Medicaid to commercial coverage, we are asking all stakeholders to join the Department and the Polis-Primavera Administration in a shared effort to Keep Coloradans Covered through two main pathways.

First, we invite you to help us ensure effective member awareness and engagement through the renewal process. For more information about the renewal process, videos in English and Spanish, and frequently asked questions, please visit HealthFirstColorado.com/renewals.

Second, we invite you to help us connect disenrolling Coloradans to other sources of affordable coverage to Keep Coloradans Covered. For more information about health insurance coverage types, please visit the Colorado Division of Insurance Types of Health Insurance Information page.

The Department is also partnering with Connect for Health Colorado to ensure disenrolling members know how to apply for individual and family coverage and how to secure the financial subsidies that make that coverage more affordable. Connect for Health’s network of certified assisters can help. Coloradans can also apply and enroll in a plan during their special enrollment period by calling the Customer Service Center at 855-752-6749.

Due to the tremendous advances in our eligibility processes over the last few years, some members will be automatically renewed and will not need to take any action to remain covered (about 30% and growing). Others will receive a renewal packet and will need to take action (about 70%) to stay covered by the deadlines listed within this important renewal communication. We have also made significant investments in PEAK, member correspondence, our monitoring systems and our eligibility system to further the important work ahead of us. We have further worked with our county partners, sister agencies and the Joint Budget Committee to secure additional funding to assist them through this unique chapter. Last, to ensure broad alignment and communications, for many months now, the Department has been hosting stakeholder meetings. The week of Jan. 23, we met with approximately 800 county and community partners on our plans to return to normal eligibility operations. To get connected to these meetings, please visit our website.

Through the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion and collaboration across the state, between 2014 through 2016, Colorado’s uninsured rate decreased from 15.8% to about 6.6% (Colorado Health Access survey results). By continuing to work together, we have been able to maintain that 6.6% uninsured rate through the COVID-19-induced economic downturn by moving hundreds of thousands of Coloradans from commercial coverage to Medicaid - a spectacular achievement to the betterment of the health and well-being of Coloradans, employers, our providers and our state. Now, we need to partner again to reconnect what is estimated to be more than 325,000 Coloradans back to affordable commercial coverage. Our Department is stepping up to lead that industry effort, in collaboration with our sister agencies, counties, providers, advocates and a cross section of industry leaders. Our shared goal through these efforts under the Polis-Primavera Administration is clear: Keep Coloradans Covered. Look for more resources and tools in the months ahead to help us achieve our shared goal. Thank you in advance for your engagement to Keep Coloradans Covered.

Separately, on Jan. 31, the federal government announced May 11 as the end date for the public health emergency. Colorado has been preparing for this, and has already made positive policy changes, such as telehealth, permanent. Please visit our website to stay updated.

Given the increasing number of Coloradans who will be covered by commercial programs in the months to come, health care affordability is even more important. In that spirit, the Department will continue to pursue our mission to Save People Money On Health Care through thought leadership and advances in prescription drug, hospital and value based payment (VBP) policies as well as innovations that improve care affordability, access, equity and quality. In that quest, last month, the Department released three hospital transparency reports to help policymakers and communities drive solutions that save Coloradans and employers money on health care. We will be hosting a Health Cabinet Affordability Summit on March 15, 7:30-10 a.m. on affordability solutions, VBPs, rural hospital supports and shared efforts to Keep Coloradans Covered. Please register today!

Also, we invite you to keep abreast of our budget and legislative agendas in support of this important work and more.

We appreciate your continued partnership in helping Keep Coloradans Covered as the public health emergency and the continuous coverage provision come to an end. And we thank you for your leadership in driving affordable access to care and coverage for all Coloradans.