Vol. 26 No. 17
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June 2017
A Moving Memorial
The American Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was on display at Rock Family Church May 17-21. The 360-foot wall carries the names of more than 57,000 troops killed during the Vietnam War. Photos by Anthony Welch
DOI says not to panic if insurance carrier drops Obamacare
A
ll over the country, the number of health insurance carriers that offer Obamacare are dwindling. It’s no different here in Colorado. At the start of 2017, UnitedHealthcare and Humana Insurance announced that they would not offer individual plans. That impacted approximately 20,000 consumers in Colorado (UnitedHealthcare – 10,549; Humana – 9,914), according to the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI). In addition, Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP) reduced individual plan offerings for 2017,
offering individual plans only in Mesa County. Approximately 10,000 people enrolled in an individual RMHP plan were forced to find another plan. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield also decided it would not offer PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) individual plans for 2017, and that affected 62,310 people, according to DOI. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) set up new markets for people who don’t receive insurance through their place of employment or the government. Around 11 million people
The Pantry Restaurant remains loyal to homestyle menu See Page 4
bought coverage on those state markets last year. But the system depends on the voluntary participation of private insurance companies. In the last year, several large commercial insurance companies decided to stop offering insurance in the markets. Back in April, Colorado’s Insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar sent a letter to Colorado’s Congressional delegation, asking them to commit to certainty and stability regarding the individual health insurance market.
“Uncertainty around the individual insurance market for 2018 is making everyone nervous,” said Commissioner Salazar, who heads the Division of Insurance, part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). “And ultimately, this uncertainty is going to hurt Colorado consumers.” In asking for a commitment, the letter lays out the potential impact to Coloradans. “Uncertainty about the regulatory
See INSURANCE, page 25
VooDoo Hawks
Band continues rockin’ through triumph, tragedy
See Page 8