Our Work
Health care jumped to the top of the list of contentious dinner table subjects, right up there with religion and politics, during the debate about the Affordable Care Act in 2009 and 2010.
Nearly one in seven Coloradans does not have a usual place to get care when health problems arise.
Where you live in Colorado often provides one clue to your type of insurance coverage — or your lack of coverage.
Even though tens of thousands of Coloradans gained insurance, the coverage they received was not adequate to cover their bills and they are now underinsured.
Do you check the bill at a restaurant before paying? You never know what you might find. That goes for health care, too. Statements from your health plan show how much you owe or paid for the care you receive.
Some Coloradans can’t afford health care. Some live in places without many doctors. And some pass up treatment because they have no way to get to their medical appointments. A lack of transportation can be hazardous to a person’s health.
It was October 15, and my colleagues and I at the Colorado Health Institute received the dreaded annual email:
“As I promised, here is the update about our health insurance open enrollment,” it began.
As you can imagine, we were giddy with excitement.
Experts recommend at least one visit to a dentist or dental hygienist every year to maintain good oral health. The majority of Coloradans are taking this recommendation, but nearly one of three Coloradans didn’t make that visit.
It isn’t news that health care — particularly specialty care — costs a lot. Nowadays, people often expect their MRI or specialist visit to run into quadruple digits. Many hoped that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would change that. It hasn’t — at least not yet.
Enrolling in health insurance is tricky. But it’s not all rainbows and unicorns once you have coverage. Knowing how to actually use your health insurance is a whole other beast.