HB21-1232 (Roberts & Jodeh/Donovan) Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option

Position

The Children’s Campaign supports this bill. This bill specifically focuses the health care system in Colorado on better meeting the needs of Coloradans who have historically and systemically faced barriers to health, including people of color, immigrants and Coloradans with low incomes. Even before the pandemic, one in five Coloradans struggled to afford their health care costs or went without care altogether. One in six Colorado counties still have only one health insurance carrier offering individual insurance plans. We need more affordable health insurance options to improve health equity and ensure Black/African American, Native American, and Latinx Coloradans have access to the health insurance and health care they need when they need it.  By implementing a standardized health plan, it will reduce premiums and out-of-pocket cost-sharing expenses, make it easier for consumers to compare health plans in an apples-to-apples way that benefits consumers, and improve coverage for perinatal, behavioral and primary health services. 73,000 Colorado kids went into the public health and economic crises caused by COVID-19 without the financial security and access to health services that health insurance provides. This bill will expand access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage and is critical to support the health and wellbeing of Colorado kids and families.