Colorado Health Insurance Plans
Overview
Health insurance plans in Colorado include several choices. These are basically group or individual private insurance, high risk coverage, or income based or other government programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
Discussion
Medicare is limited to those over age 65 or with certain disabilities and comes in three parts, A, B, and D. Part A is the automatic hospital inpatient only coverage while Parts B and D are optional for most people. An exception is Part D for people who are called dual eligible, or Medi-Medi recipients on Medicare and Medicaid. They are required to be in a Part D program.
Medicaid is an income-based federal health insurance plan administered by the state. It is based on income relative to the FPL or Federal Poverty Level and other eligibility requirements. Colorado health insurance plans also include the CICP. This is the Colorado Indigent Care Program and it pays on a sliding scale for those not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.
For children, there are also CO health insurance plans. They may be covered by a parent's policy or may be eligible for Child Health Plan Plus. This is a part of Medicaid that has higher income limits and protects children under age 19 not eligible for Medicaid.
Health plans in CO also include the CoverColorado plan for those who are high risk because of certain health conditions. Colorado allows anything for which a diagnosis or treatment was sought for the prior twelve months to count as a pre-existing condition.
The final option for Colorado health insurance plans is private health insurance as an individual or as part of a group. For individual insurance, companies in CO are allowed to deny anyone coverage based on health but there is guaranteed renewability. This means you cannot have your insurance cancelled because you become ill.