Your Health Hub: Update on the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange

Health insurance is out of reach for nearly 830,000 Coloradans and many individuals and small businesses in the state are struggling to maintain the coverage they have. In an attempt to help solve this problem Colorado is creating a new online health insurance marketplace where consumers can shop for the health insurance policy that best suits their needs. The marketplace is scheduled to open in late 2013.

In 2011, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 11-200, establishing the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange (COHBE) as a public entity governed by a board of directors. The bill also created a legislative review committee to guide the development of the Exchange. Even though the Exchange will not open until late 2013, the COHBE Board of Directors has been busy getting ready for the start of business. The Board meets in open session from 8:30 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Monday of each month in the Mile High Room of COPIC, at 7351 E. Lowry Boulevard in Denver.

Gretchen Hammer, Executive Director of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved and a Park Hill resident, was appointed to the Board by Governor Hickenlooper and currently serves as Chair. Patti Fontneau was appointed as Executive Director of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange. Ms. Fontneau previously served as the Chief Operating Officer at Holme Roberts & Owen, LLP, an international law firm.

In December, the Exchange applied for an $18 million Level One Establishment Grant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If approved, this grant will fund the next stage of the development of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange. To be successful the Board and staff need the ongoing engagement and guidance of people across the state to ensure the Exchange will meet the unique needs of Coloradans.

For more information on the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange, visit www.getcoveredco.org and get involved!

Your Health Hub is a monthly column provided by the be well Health and Wellness initiative of the Stapleton Foundation intended to provide Park Hill residents with detailed information on what is happening in health in the Park Hill neighborhood.