Affordability
Colorado's uninsured population is a large and diverse group. Some may be surprised by the fact that:
- Almost eight in ten of the uninsured are U.S. citizens
- Three in four come from families in which at least one family member has a job
- Two-thirds are from families with an annual income of $20,000 or more
Profile of the Uninsured in Colorado¹
| Total Uninsured |
813,188 |
| Children |
175,500 |
| In families with at least 1 worker |
549,640 |
| Children eligible for but not enrolled in Medicaid/CHP+ |
100,000 |
The High Cost of Coverage
One of the most common reasons for not having health coverage is cost. Colorado's Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform reports that, in 1987, the cost of a premium was about 8 percent of median family annual income. Today, it has more than doubled to 19 percent, which is about $12,000 a year for a family of four that earns an average annual income of $63,000. For lower-income people, the cost of coverage is a far greater, often impossible, financial burden.
Even Coloradans who are enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare may not get the care they need because there are fewer providers willing to treat them, primarily because reimbursement rates are lower than those for patients with private insurance.
Our Focus
To increase enrollment and access to public health insurance programs, we use our resources to support programs that work to:
- Advocate for changes to simplify the enrollment process
- Educate government, business and community leaders about health care reform
- Increase awareness about the availability of public health insurance
- Help school-based health centers, community clinics and other community resource centers identify and enroll eligible children and their families
Sources
¹ The Lewin Group. 2007; Kaiser Family Foundation, 2009