67,500 more coloradans eligible for public health insurance Funded through the Colorado Health Care Affordability Act Provider Fee

DENVER – April 29, 2010 – The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing announced today that 67,500 additional Coloradans will be eligible for Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus as of May 1, 2010.

The Colorado Health Care Affordability Act, signed by Governor Ritter in 2009, authorized the department to collect a hospital provider fee to expand health care coverage to more than 100,000 Coloradans. When fully implemented, $600 million in fees will be matched by federal dollars for a total of $1.2 billion annually.
On May 1, an estimated 44,000 parents who have a child on Medicaid and 24,000 children and pregnant women will be eligible for health care coverage as a result of the hospital provider fee at no cost to the taxpayer.

CHP+ eligibility is increasing from 205 percent of the federal poverty level, or $45,000 per year for a family of four, to 250 percent which is about $55,000 per year for a family of four.

Eligibility for parents with a child on Medicaid can make up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level - $22,056 per year for a family of four. This is up from 60 percent, or $13,234.

Families must apply for benefits and provide documentation of income, identification and citizenship. English and Spanish applications are available online at Colorado.gov/hcpf, at local departments of social services and by calling 303-866-3513 or toll free at 800-221-3943.

About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing: The department administers the Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus programs as well as a variety of other programs for Colorado’s low-income, elderly and people with disabilities. The mission of the department is to improve access to cost-effective, quality health care services for Coloradans. For more information about the department, please visit Colorado.gov/hcpf.