Colorado

Status of reform effort: On January 31, 2008, the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission made recommendations to the state legislature for a comprehensive health reform plan.

On June 2, 2006, Governor Bill Ritter (D) signed SB 06-208, creating the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform.  The Commission was charged with studying and establishing health care reform models to expand health care coverage and decrease health care costs.  The Commission asked the public to submit proposals for health reform, and of the 19 proposals that were received, four were selected for further evaluation.  The Commission considered these four proposals along with their own proposal.

On January 31, 2008, the Commission presented their final recommendations to the General Assembly. Twenty-four out of twenty-seven commission members endorsed the recommendations.

• Individual Mandate: Requirement that individuals purchase a Minimal Benefit Plan or face a tax penalty; An affordability exemption will be provided. 
• Public Health Insurance Programs: Expand state Medicaid and SCHIP eligibility up to 205 percent of the federal poverty level for all uninsured residents; Combine administrative functions of public health insurance programs.
• Connector: Create an insurance exchange through which individuals and employers can purchase lower cost products that meet benefit standards.
• Premium Subsidies: Provide premium subsidies to workers with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level to assist them in purchasing coverage or for those who are not offered employer coverage, to assist them in purchasing private coverage.
• Employer Requirements:  Require employers to establish premium-only Section 125 plans to allow employees to withhold money for health insurance on a pre-tax basis.
• Insurance Market Reforms: Require health plans to provide coverage to anyone who is not eligible for Cover Colorado, regardless of pre-existing conditions.
• Health Care Providers: Require all health carriers offering insurance in Colorado to provide a Minimum Benefit Plan; Increase Medicaid reimbursement to health care providers.*

Updated as of 2/4/08