‘Tis the Season—for Health Insurance

If you and your family buy your own health insurance instead of relying on an employer plan, it’s time to get ready for “insurance Season.”

Connect for Health Colorado is the online health insurance marketplace designed to help people find the right health insurance plan for their budget and needs. Their website, connectforhealthco.com, also helps people determine if they are eligible for a monthly premium reduction under the Affordable Care Act.

The official health insurance purchasing period opens on November 1 and runs until January 15, 2025. Insurance purchased by December 15 goes into effect on January 1, 2025, while insurance purchased after December 15 is effective February 1.

If you or someone you know is an undocumented resident, insurance coverage may be available under Connect for Health Colorado’s OmniSalud program. OmniSalud provides undocumented Coloradans with a safe way to compare plans and enroll on a secure online platform. Additional support is available through Colorado Connect, a subsidiary of Connect for Health Colorado that manages the OmniSalud program.

To review plans and sign up through Connect for Health Colorado or Colorado Connect, go to connectforhealthco.com starting on November 1. Well-trained assisters who speak English and Spanish are available to help people understand various plans and navigate the website by calling 855-752-6749.

Mountain Family Health Centers and the Valley Health Alliance will be helping people locally enroll in OmniSalud and other Colorado Connect programs.

“Connect for Health Colorado offers a great service in helping people review plans and understand the total cost of care, which includes monthly premiums and other out-of-pocket expenses,” says Chris McDowell, executive director at the Valley Health Alliance.