Media Contact:
Vincent Plymell
vincent.plymell@state.co.us
Decision will reduce out-of-pocket costs for lower-income Coloradans for individual plans.
The Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise (HIAE) Board, housed within the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), recently approved increased subsidies for people who purchase individual health insurance (meaning not from an employer) in 2022. These subsidies will decrease deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance by increasing the value of the plan for certain low income Coloradans. According to the actuarial estimates presented to the Board, these increased subsidies are expected to help over 14,000 Coloradans enroll in health insurance and help over 50,000 new and existing enrollees in total.
The HIAE Board was created by a 2020 Colorado law to help address the affordability of individual health insurance in the State as well as increase enrollment for the benefit of all Coloradans.
For 2022, the Board approved increased subsidies for people in individual plans with household incomes in the 150 - 200% range of the federal poverty level (FPL), meaning 1.5 to 2 times the FPL. In dollar figures, that means for a household of one, an annual income between $19,320 and $25,760, or for a family of four, between $39,750 and $53,000. These subsidies will be in the form of cost sharing reductions (CSRs) which help to lower the amount paid when receiving care, reducing out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance and even the out-of-pocket maximums for plans.
“This Board was focused not only on helping as many people as possible, but in removing the barriers that prevent people from actually using the health insurance they purchase,” said Board Chair Stephanie Einfeld. “Enhancing CSRs for 2022 will do just that, getting more people covered and providing real help with out-of-pocket costs for new and existing enrollees.”
This decision will also help Colorado health insurers by bringing more Coloradans into insurance coverage and reducing the number of uninsured. This will ultimately lower costs for everyone in the individual market and help bring stability to the entire health care market by decreasing the uninsured rate.
To receive these CSRs, eligible Coloradans will not need to do anything more than is currently necessary to receive CSRs - enrolling through Connect for Health Colorado for 2022 coverage and choosing a silver-level plan. Health insurance companies will automatically build the reductions into their plans to lower enrollees’ co-payments, coinsurance and deductibles.
###
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.