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WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2, 2023
VOLUME 96 | ISSUE 48
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Addressing veterans’ challenges through agriculture
Health insurance rates set to rise BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN
other mental health conditions because of their experience in combat or working in life-threatening situations. Returning to civilian life can lead to a sense of isolation and difficulty reintegrating into their community. These factors lead to veterans having an average rate of 16 suicides per day, 57% higher than non-veterans in the United States, according to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Fortunately, there are effective ways to address these issues.
Health insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on their own are set to increase by nearly 10% next year. But that is slightly lower than insurers had initially requested, and the Polis administration found other reasons to cheer in the numbers it released. Nearly one-third of Colorado Option plans sold in the individual market and 80% of Colorado Option plans offered in the small-group market — where small employers buy plans for their workers — are expected to hit the state-set price targets. Those numbers are far better than what it appeared they would be when insurers earlier this year filed their rate requests and raised questions about the sustainability of the Colorado Option, which aims to offer better coverage at less-expensive prices. The program is one of Gov. Jared Polis’ signature health care policies. “The division continues to hammer away at health care costs, working to limit rising costs and save people money on health care,” Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway said in a statement. “As it does every year, our team dug deep into what the companies filed to push down on what they wanted to charge.” Others were not as enthusiastic. Saskia Young, the executive director of the Colorado Association of Health Plans, an insurer trade group that often spars with Conway,
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A couple of veterans work with crops at the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms.
Denver Botanic Gardens’ Chatfield Farms Veteran Farm Program offers hands-on experiences BY ROYCE HALE
When you hear the word “veteran,” what do you think of? For most people, it conjures feelings of gratitude, pride and respect. They appreciate the sacrifices veterans have
made in service to their country and hold them in high regard. Veterans are seen as representing the nation’s commitment to defending its values and freedoms. What is often not considered are the challenges and difficulties that military veterans may face after they have completed their service in the armed forces and are transitioning back to civilian life. Some veterans may have physical disabilities or injuries resulting from combat or training. Many veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and
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PHOTO BY ROYCE HALE
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IMPORTANCE OF PUMPKINS How a simple gourd became a seasonal icon P10