The Colorado Health Benefits Exchange (COHBE), soon to be called Connect for Health Colorado, will be an online marketplace for individuals and small business owners to shop for and buy health insurance in Colorado.
The Exchange will allow consumers to better compare the quality and price of private health insurance plans, by providing easy to understand information about each plan. Further, only qualified health plans that meet a set standard of coverage will be able to sell insurance in the Exchange. This will help protect consumers in Colorado.
The Exchange is scheduled to open for business in October 2013. Coloradans will be able to enroll in a plan online.
Although the online portal will be designed to be user-friendly (similar to TurboTax for filing taxes), the Exchange will also have a network of Navigators that can help consumers over the phone or in person with any questions or concerns throughout the enrollment process.
As we prepare for the launch of the Exchange, the National MS Society Advocacy Team is involved in making sure the Essential Health Benefits Plan that defines insurance plans sold on the exchange meets the needs of people with MS.
We are also working to help ensure that consumers can get the coverage they need by advocating for a strong Navigator Program. If you’d like to get involved, email the Chapter’s Public Policy Coordinator Allie Moore or 303-698-5435.