Q and A with Patty Fontneau, Executive Director/CEO, Connect for Health Colorado

Monday, July 01, 2013 12:19 PM

Connect for Health Colorado™ will open a new online marketplace in October for health insurance and access to new financial assistance for individuals, families and small employers in the state. In advance of the official launch, the Colorado Medical Society asked Connect for Health Colorado Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Patty Fontneau a few questions regarding details of the marketplace and where health care professionals and their patients can get more information.

Colorado Medicine (CM): What is Connect for Health Colorado?
Patty Fontneau (PF): We are a new health insurance marketplace and support network opening this October with the mission of increasing access, affordability and choice for individuals, families and small employers across the state.

CM: Health insurance is complicated. How do you intend to help Coloradans understand their choices and find the health plan that meets their needs?
PF: Connect for Health Colorado will provide a broad support network to help consumers, including online decision support tools, online chat, assistance by phone with customer service representatives, certified Health Coverage Guides who will be available to provide in-person help in your community, and licensed and certified health insurance agents and brokers. Connect for Health Colorado recently selected 57 organizations across the state to serve as assistance sites.

CM: How will the Assistance Network work in October?
PF: Starting in October, the network will provide local, in-person assistance to individuals, families and small businesses looking to shop for health care coverage through the marketplace, to apply for new tax credits to reduce costs and for other insurance affordability programs. Health Coverage Guides will provide impartial assistance and will also be able to connect customers with a licensed agent/broker, a customer service center representative, insurance carriers and other resources when appropriate.

CM: How many carriers will be offering health plans through the marketplace?
PF: Ten carriers requested approval from the Colorado Division of Insurance to provide about 150 health plans for individuals and families through Connect for Health Colorado. Six carriers requested approval to provide nearly 100 health plans to small employers. Final details about the costs and features of the health plans will be known in August.

CM: Does Connect for Health Colorado play a role in negotiating reimbursement rates with providers?
PF: No. Connect for Health Colorado cannot negotiate rates and does not play a role in the agreements that are made between carriers and medical providers. We are a resource to help Coloradans compare competitive health insurance plans from the leading carriers and decide which plan best protects their family and meets their budget. We encourage providers to work with carriers, including new companies that are entering our marketplace, to complete agreements.

CM: What resources are available for health professionals looking for additional information to share with patients?
PF: We encourage health professionals to refer patients to our website, www.ConnectforHealthCO.com. We also have a toll-free number, 1-855-PLANS4YOU, where interested Coloradans can ask general questions.

CM: What advice do you have for people who want to help educate Coloradans about the new marketplace or who want to get additional educational materials?
PF: Participation from health care professionals will be a critical component of providing information about the health insurance marketplace to consumers. People interested in volunteering or in learning more through webinars or outreach events can contact info@ConnectforHealthCO.com or go to www.connectforhealthco.com/connect.

Key takeaways

• Connect for Health Colorado, a new health insurance marketplace for individuals, families and small employers, opens in October.
• The marketplace will include a high-quality support network of customer service center representatives, Health Coverage Guides and licensed health insurance agents and brokers to make finding the best health plan a faster and simpler experience for Coloradans.
• Consumers will have a broad choice of health plans. Ten carriers requested approval to offer 150 health plans to individuals and families through Connect for Health Colorado and six carriers requested approval to provide nearly 100 health plans to small employers. Providers should be negotiating contracts with carriers now.