Consumer Assistance Program

The Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) was created in 2018 to help individual consumers navigate their issues with insurers and health care providers, like hospitals and clinics.

Our specialty is medical billing and claims issues, and we also help consumers find resources to cover health care costs. We do not provide financial assistance.

You will never be charged for our services, but we welcome and greatly appreciate donations!

Our story

Click here to learn more about the story of this unique program and the services we provide.

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Hospital Discounted Care

Click here to learn more about hospital discounted care and your rights as a patient.

Consumer Resources

Need help, but not sure where to start? Click here to find available resources!

Get help from CAP

Click here to get help with your medical bill or prescription drug costs.

What's the process?

Click hear to learn how our amazing staff and volunteers will handle your case from start to finish.

What our clients are saying

 

Carol […] did everything she could to help me [… .] She called the collection agency and the [physician group] to get rid of my $4400 debt.  That was being handled by [collections agency], and Carol […] was very persistent to dig through all the bureaucracy [… .] Carol, with extremely hard work, was able to help. I would say she was like case worker that really did everything she could to help and I’m very grateful for that. Thanks to her tenacity, I NO longer have a huge debt over me. Thank You for everything Carol did and also Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.

Emerald was great throughout the process. It ended up being a very long and drawn out process and she was on top of it and continually checked in on us and our status. She was able to contact an executive with the hospital that finally got us some resolution with our bill.

Kim Williams helped me to understand my insurance policy. She helped me to call to my insurance company and the [physician group] and explain […] my concerns and issues with the bill. Kim and I spent hours and hours talking with the customer service. I really appreciate all her help.

CCHI was great with follow-up and helping me navigate the complexities of the health care system. My father worked in medical billing for 40 years, so I know more than the average patient, however CCHI’s assistance was beyond valuable. I’d recommend them to anyone.

Your organization commanded the attention I could not get on my own, as an individual. Kim Williams in your organization was able to correct the false assertions from the billing office while keeping a courteous and professional manner. Kim was able to ask for the correct personnel in the billing office and actually get them to take action.

By the Numbers…

In just three years, with three full-time staff and three volunteers, CAP has:

 

  • Served 1,583 clients in 45 counties statewide
  • Saved clients over $4,200,000 in medical bills and prescription drug costs

Meet the team!

Stephanie Arenales

Stephanie Arenales

Consumer Assistance Program Manager

Stephanie joined CCHI in May 2018 and brings 12 years of experience in health care coverage and access issues to her position as the manager of CCHI’s Consumer Assistance Program.  While at the Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services Stephanie managed Boulder County’s Connect for Health Colorado Assistance Site and the Healthy Communities and Healthy Kids Programs.

Melissa Duncan

Melissa Duncan

Consumer Assistance Program Coordinator

Melissa is a Colorado native who is passionate about advocacy and providing outstanding customer service. She is excited to join CCHI and give support to others on their journey to recieve equitable access to quality healthcare. She has her Master’s degree in Counseling and previously worked over 10 years for mpowered, a local nonprofit organization. While there, she coached clients towards financial health including; budgeting, action planning and disputing inaccurate information on credit reports. She strives to bring her positivity to every client interaction while building rapport. In her spare time, you can find her hiking with her family, reading and cheering on the Broncos and Avalanche.

Emily Hidalgo

Emily Hidalgo

Consumer Assistance Program Coordinator

Emily is from San Jose, California, and recently graduated from Colorado College with a B.A. in Hispanic Studies and Race Ethnicity and Migration Studies. While in college, she worked at the Charles L. Tutt Library and was involved in various organizations including SOMOS, the campus Hispanic and Latinx affinity group, as well as Outdoor Education. As the CCHI Consumer Assistance Program Fellow, Emily is looking forward to working towards healthcare equity by working on the accessibility and affordability of consumer healthcare. Outside of this work she can be found embroidering, cooking, and exploring the outdoors.

Carol Ungar

Carol Ungar

Volunteer

I am a retired nurse/case manager who formerly worked on the insurance side of health care. I am glad to have the opportunity to use my knowledge to help consumers deal with their problems with their health insurance coverage. I feel like it is a chance to pay it back.

 

Bill Robinson

Bill Robinson

Volunteer

I have 45 years of group health insurance professional experience.  The last 24 years were spent as an employee benefit consultant at two international consulting and actuarial firms.  I have a BA in economics and an MBA from the University of California. I volunteer at CCHI because I enjoy using my work experience and technical knowledge to assist people navigate our complex healthcare system and receive the benefits that they are entitled to.

Thanks to our major sponsors!

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
303 E 17th Ave, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80203
303.839.1261

General: inform@cohealthinitiative.org
Assistance: help@cohealthinitiative.org
Media: ptelang@cohealthinitiative.org

REACH OUT!

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