j_hce_2016a_2016-04-13t07:21:10z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/13/2016

07:22 AM -- Update on 2015-16 Open Enrollment



Sharon O'Hara, Immediate Past Chair, Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors, made opening remarks and introduced Adela Flores-Brennan, Chair, Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors.



07:24 AM



Kevin Patterson, Chief Executive Officer, Connect for Health Colorado, distributed 2015-2016 Open Enrollment Report By the Numbers to the committee (Attachment A). He told the committee that the exchange enrolled 169,000 individuals into health insurance programs during the 2015-2016 open enrollment period. He discussed the improvement of the call center wait times and calls from the previous open enrollments. Mr. Patterson responded to questions about the number of individuals who are eligible for the tax subsidy. He told the committee that 40 percent of individuals who contacted the exchange during the 2015-2016 open enrollment period were Medicaid eligible compared to 60 percent of individuals in previous years. Mr. Patterson responded to questions about the improvement in real time eligibility determinations and the number of small businesses that obtain coverage for employees through the exchange.



160413 AttachA.pdf



07:35 AM



Mr. Patterson referred to page 7 of the handout and discussed the efforts of Connect for Health Colorado in regard to consumer outreach. He responded to questions about outreach to counties that have large numbers of children who do not have health insurance coverage.





07:39 AM



Steve ErkenBrack, Vice-Chair of Connect for Health Colorado Board of Directors, responded to questions about the inadequate options for health insurance coverage in rural areas. Mr. Patterson answered questions about the use of digital media to reach new customers. Committee discussion followed about the mission of the organizations that are part of the exchange's assistance network. Mr. Patterson explained that many of these assistance sites receive grant funding to help offset the cost of providing assistance.



07:48 AM



Mr. Patterson directed the committee's attention to the Appendix on page 10 of the handout. Mr. ErkenBrack responded to questions about the various factors behind the difference in the number of individuals enrolled by age.



Mr. Patterson responded to questions about the number of returning customers choosing a different health insurance company. He explained that 40 percent of the exchange customers were enrolled in a Colorado HealthOp plan in 2015. He stated that 52 percent of Colorado HealthOp customers reenrolled in insurance through the exchange. Mr. Patterson discussed the exchange's efforts in providing better outreach to consumers by helping consumers identify insurance plans that have drug formularies and provider networks that suit the consumers needs.



08:02 AM



Mr. Patterson discussed future budgeting plans, the enrollment of former Colorado HealthOp customers, enrollments by regions, grants for assistance sites, and the high number of individuals that enroll in bronze plans.