Media Contact:
Vincent Plymell
vincent.plymell@state.co.us
Service connects people to trained specialists via call, text and chat.
DENVER - The Colorado Division of Insurance is helping our partners at the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and 988 Crisis Hotline Enterprise Board proudly announce the launch of a campaign to increase awareness and utilization of the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line (988). This service connects people in Colorado to trained specialists offering compassionate mental health, emotional, and substance use support via call, text, and chat.
Colorado has been a pioneer in delivering life-saving crisis services since 2014 with its Colorado Crisis Line, well ahead of the federal mandate for state-provided crisis services. With the nationwide introduction of 988 in July 2022, there is now a unified, easy-to-remember number for those in crisis.
It is important to note that those who are familiar with the Colorado Crisis Line will still be able to call or text to get the support they need from the number they know well. But now, they’ll have an additional option with the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line.
With the launch of the marketing campaign, 988 in Colorado now has a new website, logo, and name designed with the input of Coloradans. To inform the marketing, BHA and the board spent the last 1.5 years conducting extensive research with youth, adults, and behavioral health referrers. They also invited the people of Colorado to provide feedback on the proposed messaging and creative directions.
Learn more on the 988 Colorado website.
Information About Mental Health Services and Insurance
The DOI has developed resources for Coloradans who have questions about how their insurance works with mental health and substance use disorder services. These resources include videos to help people navigate their insurance and their mental health benefits, as well as information on the federal and Colorado requirements that health insurance companies cover services for mental and behavioral health conditions like they cover other medical conditions, like diabetes or heart disease - what is known as “Mental Health Parity.”
The DOI has also developed resources for behavioral health providers that currently or want to participate in commercial insurance networks, and it has launched a complaint form for providers experiencing challenges with commercial insurance in Colorado. More information can be found at the following page: Commercial Insurance Resources for Behavioral Health Providers in Colorado.
Visit the DOI website on Mental / Behavioral Health and Insurance to learn more, or contact the DOI Consumer Services team to ask your questions about mental health benefits and insurance - 303-894-7490 / DORA_Insurance@state.co.us / doi.colorado.gov (click on “File a Complaint”).
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About the Division of Insurance:
The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), regulates the insurance industry and assists consumers and other stakeholders with insurance issues. Visit doi.colorado.gov for more information or call 303-894-7499 / toll free 800-930-3745.
About DORA:
DORA is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business environment in Colorado. Consumer protection is our mission. Visit dora.colorado.gov for more information or call 303-894-7855 / toll free 800-886-7675.