The individual health insurance market has changed markedly since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, sometimes referred to as Obamacare.
Plans come in 3 categories, Bronze, Silver and Gold. From a 20,000′ perspective, the category determines when the insurance company steps in front of you and starts taking some or all of the bullets. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the services covered are the same in all categories of plans, the difference is when the insurance company starts paying. Each company has their own network of doctors and drug formularies
Pricing is based on your region (i.e. zip code/county) and age. Your health history does not affect your premium. The cost of insurance may be reduced if you are eligible for a tax credit. In Colorado, to obtain a tax credit on a monthly basis (i.e. have it advanced) you must apply for Medicaid. This can be done through your Connect for Health Colorado account or through the Colorado PEAK website.
So far, each year has been a new adventure. In 2023 the following insurance companies participated in the Colorado Marketplace:
- Anthem BCBS (entire state)
- Cigna (7 counties)
- Elevate by Denver Health (Denver region)
- Friday Health (regional)
- Kaiser (regional)
- Rocky Mountain Health Plans/United Healthcare
2023 open enrollment starts November 1 and ends January 15, 2023.