Medicare, Medicaid and CHP+
In Colorado, an estimated 100,000 children and tens of thousands of adults have family incomes low enough to be eligible for public health insurance programs such as Medicaid or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), but are not enrolled in these programs to receive needed care. Lack of care leads to poor health outcomes and expensive trips to the emergency room to treat acute problems.
Medicaid and Medicare
In Colorado, the state's Department of Health Care Policy and Financing administers Medicaid and CHP+ programs. Medicaid is available to:
- Low-income families
- Children and pregnant women
- Persons who are blind
- Persons with disabilities
- Seniors
CHP+ is health insurance coverage for low-income children and pregnant women from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but who cannot afford private insurance. Medicare, a federal program available to persons aged 65 years and older, is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Barriers to Enrollment
Some of the reasons why Coloradans are not enrolled in public health insurance programs are:
- Social stigma
- Lack of awareness of the availability of public insurance
- Misconceptions about eligibility
- The complex and time-consuming application process
- Problems with the computerized system that determines eligibility for public assistance
- Recently passed anti-immigration laws and documentation requirements that discourage enrollment
Our Focus
We are committed to increasing the number of Coloradans with adequate health coverage, as well as increasing access to necessary care for those covered by public insurance. We use our resources to support programs that work to:
- Advocate for changes to simplify the enrollment process
- Help school-based health centers, community clinics and other community resource centers identify and enroll eligible children and their families