Colorado Health Care Proposal Would Expand Coverage To 85% Of States Uninsured

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 23 Oct 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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A proposal developed by the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform would extend health insurance to 85% of the state's uninsured residents and cost between $1.4 billion and $2.1 billion, according to a consultant appointed to study proposals for a statewide insurance plan, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports. The proposal -- which the commission developed based on four other proposals it received from state interest groups -- would require all residents to obtain coverage or pay a penalty, expand Medicaid and children's health programs, provide subsidies to residents with incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level to purchase insurance, and allow residents with disabilities who have incomes up to 450% of the poverty level to buy into Medicaid. The commission planned to meet on Friday to discuss ways to reduce the cost of the fifth proposal by focusing only on the state's neediest people, and it will work with The Lewin Group over the next month to refine the proposal (Barge, Denver Rocky Mountain News, 10/19).

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