Signing of bills creating a public option, reinsurance program, and co-op community insurance will bring down premiums and increase competition
May 17, 2019
Contact: Adam Fox, 303-563-9108, afox@cohealthinitiative.org
Katie Reinisch, 303-653-1009, katie@progressive-promotions.com
DENVER – This afternoon, Coloradans are able to look forward to more affordable health insurance and more competition. Governor Polis is signing HB1168 to create a reinsurance program, SB004 to create co-operative community insurance plans with consumer protections, and HB1004 to create a public option.
Statement from Adam Fox, Director of Strategic Engagement for CCHI:
“This package of bills that was signed into law today puts Colorado back at the forefront of health care innovation and will help all Coloradans. Creating a public option, a reinsurance program, and a more robust structure for co-operative community insurance plans will provide more affordable coverage and competition for consumers.
“Especially for rural Coloradans, these bills are vital. Our rural and mountain communities desperately need relief from high health insurance prices. For the 14 counties where one insurer has a monopoly, a public option will double buyers’ choices in rural areas, and reinsurance will lead to lower premiums.
“The legislators, Governor, and advocates that worked to make these laws a reality should be applauded for their efforts. This is what Colorado can accomplish when we work together to make our health care system better. This package of legislation is all the more important in the face of uncertainty at the federal level and ongoing attacks against the Affordable Care Act. Colorado is rejecting those attacks and moving positive solutions forward that will help protect Coloradans’ access to health care and ensure Colorado families don’t have to choose between paying for good health insurance and being able to afford housing or putting food on the table.”
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Colorado Consumer Health Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that represents 45+ Colorado health organizations with more than 500,000 health care consumer members advocating for high-quality, affordable and equitable health care. In 2018, CCHI received the “Get Wise” Consumer Protection award from the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).