Health Equity Strategic Plan | Division of Insurance
Visit DORA's Division of Insurance website, call 303-894-7499, or email dora_insurance@state.co.us for more information or assistance with direct services.
Priority:
Problem statement
About 1 in 10 people in the United States and 8.3 percent of Coloradans under 65 don’t have health insurance. People without insurance are less likely to have a primary care provider, and they may not be able to afford the health care services and medications they need. Strategies to increase insurance coverage rates are critical for making sure more people get important health care services, like preventive care and treatment for chronic illnesses.
Access to quality and affordable health care is an important social determinant of health. Marginalized communities, including communities of color, are less likely to have health insurance, less likely to see a doctor because of cost, less likely to have a relationship with a health care provider and a usual source of care, less likely to have had a routine visit within the past year, and more likely to have a higher number of chronic medical comorbidities. In Colorado, approximately 50% of residents receive health insurance through their employer; however, that proportion is lower among Hispanic residents (42.2%), American Indian/Alaska Native residents (46.7%) and Black residents (47.7%), compared to White residents (66.8%).
By reducing health insurance premiums, the Colorado Option aims to remove barriers to obtaining health insurance coverage. By lowering the cost of specific services, such as primary care, mental/behavioral health/substance use disorder care, and diabetic supplies and management, the Colorado Option aims to remove barriers in accessing care where we see Coloradans of color experiencing worse health outcomes (for example, those related to diabetes management and maternal health). We know that Coloradans with lower incomes, who are disproportionately people of color, report feeling the strain of high healthcare costs more than others.
Community engagement
The Division regularly engages with the community through Colorado Option Advisory Board meetings, stakeholder meetings, and rulemaking hearings. For example, the Colorado Option Advisory Board meets several times a year to provide updates regarding implementation of the Colorado Option. These updates include the status of Division regulations for the Colorado Option, enrollment in Colorado Option plans following open enrollment, and the results of the Colorado Option public hearing process. Meetings are held throughout the year to allow more people to join, including members of the public or interested stakeholders.
The Division will also continue to collect public comment and feedback on its policies through various mechanisms, including regulatory review, stakeholder meetings, and communications between advocates/stakeholders and Division staff.
Colorado Option Consumer Centered Plans
The Colorado Option is a state-led public option program that increases affordability of health insurance.
The Colorado Option reduces racial health disparities primarily through the creation of a standardized health benefit plan that will save people money through lower premiums, lower cost-sharing, and through enhanced network adequacy requirements.
Colorado Option plans are also required to have a provider network that is culturally responsive. To ensure a culturally responsive provider network, carriers must:
- Collect demographic data on enrollees and providers;
- Include more essential community providers and Certified Nurse Midwives; and
- Support its non-English speaking enrollees through enhanced language access and provider directory requirements.
Communities prioritized by this strategy:
- Communities of color
- LGBT+ communities
- People living with disabilities
- Linguistically isolated communities
- Historically marginalized communities
Areas of impact
This strategy will impact Coloradans statewide.
2024 milestones
- Collect and analyze culturally responsive provider network data. [Complete]
2025 milestones
- Host stakeholder meeting(s) to review Colorado Option Standardized Plan Design.
2026 milestones
- Review Colorado Insurance Regulations to make updates to culturally responsive provider network requirements and Colorado Option Plan Design.
By December 2024
- 50 percent of carriers report provider demographic data consistent with the requirements in Regulation 4-2-80. 50 percent of carriers report enrollee demographic data consistent with the requirements in Regulation 4-2-80, if they have enrollees in their plans.
- At least 90% of providers and their front office staff have undertaken anti-bias or cultural competency training.
By December 2025
- 50 percent of carriers attest that at least one certified nurse midwife is available within the maximum road travel distance of any covered person based on the various categories of geographic areas for individual market plans.
- 100% of carriers attest to providing language assistance services, including American Sign Language (ASL), and other communication services for people who are (Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind) for individual market plans.
- Host stakeholder meeting(s) to review Colorado Option Standardized Plan Design.