DENVER – La Plata and other rural counties in Colorado saw increases in health insurance enrollment during the open enrollment period that ended on Jan. 31.
La Plata County had a 30 percent spike in enrollment. Montezuma County reported an impressive 63 percent growth rate.
The numbers were reported Thursday by Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s marketplace for health insurance. The system was established in 2011 in the wake of federal health care reform.
“We work with partners throughout the state to ensure that all Coloradans have access to in-person help,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive of Connect for Health Colorado. “These increases are really a testament to the success of our partners who are doing the on-the-ground work at events and the statewide enrollment centers across Colorado.”
Overall, the number of Coloradans enrolling in medical coverage through the state marketplace increased 10 percent over the number last year.
The report comes even as about 83,000 Coloradans lost health insurance after the state’s federally-backed health insurance nonprofit cooperative shuttered because of financial woes. The latest membership numbers before it closed revealed that 1,415 people in La Plata County were insured by Colorado HealthOP.
Individuals and families whose health insurance company is no longer offering plans are permitted to enroll in new coverage through Feb. 29.
Coloradans also can purchase coverage for 2016 if they lost coverage provided through a job, moved to Colorado, got married or had a child.
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
