State of Working Colorado: Health insurance coverage over time – Public insurance fills the gap

Private health insurance coverage in Colorado has declined over the decade. Yet, the overall uninsurance rate has remained fairly stable despite a massive recession beginning in late 2007. The key to that stability is public health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program. Those programs have filled the gap created by declining private health insurance. The fact that uninsurance rates in Colorado actually declined modestly amid the worst recession since the Great Depression is a testament to the effectiveness of our public insurance programs. As unemployment rates increased, more Coloradoans turned to public programs for health insurance.

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

Colorado news roundup: Sen. Bennet joins 'Gang of Six' deficit-cutting compromise

Check out analysis of the Gang of Six plan from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Read the latest developments, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State starting to wake up to the true cost of making ends meet for elders

Coloradans in all corners of the state are starting to wake up to the true cost of making ends meet for elders, thanks in part to the media attention we've received from our Elder Index report released earlier this month. Check out this video report from the CBS affiliate TV station in Grand Junction.

Colorado news roundup: State has a lot to lose in debt debate

Illuminating county-by-county numbers from U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet about the effects in Colorado of defaulting on the national debt. Read about it, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Overall poverty – Need on the rise

The poverty rate is the percentage of households with income below Federal Poverty Level (FPL), annual income below which a family is considered poor by the federal government. The threshold varies with family size and is updated annually by the federal government. For an individual younger than 65 the FPL was $11,369 in 2010. For a family of two adults and two children the FPL was $22,162.

Colorado’s poverty rate has increased since 2000. In 2009, the Colorado poverty rate stood at 12.9 percent, up 1.5 percentage points since the year before, and up from 8.7 percent at the beginning of the decade. Colorado’s poverty rate ranks 29th highest among other states.

 

 

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

Be a Partner for Justice with CCLP

Our Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute is working each day to provide timely and objective analyses of state fiscal issues, but we can't do this important work without your help. Consider a monthly donation of $10, $25 or $50 to support this valuable work as a CCLP Partner for Justice!

Colorado news roundup: Layoffs coming at unemployment office

The irony would be amusing if it weren't so sad. Read about it, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: The importance of quality child care

Quality, affordable child care is often essential for parents to find and keep work. Read one perspective on it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Residents deserve a chance to reinvest in schools, editorial says

Great support for the Bright Colorado initiative from The Durango Herald. Read the editorial, and find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid would hurt state's economy

The June 17 edition of Health Law and Policy Update covered the economic threats from cuts to those important programs. Learn more, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Health insurance coverage over time – Costs and cost burdens rise

Increased cost is a prominent trend in Colorado health insurance. In 2000, the average annual premium in Colorado was $2,450 for single coverage and $6,797 for family coverage. In 2009, those costs were $4,750 and $13,360 respectively. That represents a 94 percent increase in single coverage premiums, and a 97 percent increase in family coverage premiums.

At the same time costs are rising, the burden of payment is falling increasingly on Coloradans. In 2000, Colorado employees were asked to pay 17 percent of premiums by their employers for individual coverage, and 23 percent of premiums for family coverage. In 2009 those shares increased to 22 percent for individuals and 25 percent for families. Growth in cost burden in Colorado outpaces growth for the U.S. as a whole.
For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

Colorado news roundup: Drumbeat to reinvest in education grows across state

Learn details about the Bright Colorado campaign to reinvest in our state's education at www.brightcolorado.com. There's coverage of the campaign's stops in Grand Junction and Aspen, plus links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Become a Partner for Justice with CCLP

Our Family Economic Security Program is working to reduce the number of Coloradans living in poverty, but we can't do this important work without your help. Consider a monthly donation of $10, $25 or $50 as a CCLP Partner for Justice!

Colorado news roundup: Some question makeup of state's health insurance exchange board

Find CCLP's take on the issue in the July 1 edition of Health Law and Policy Update. Read the latest developments, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: With child hunger on the rise, summer lunch programs ramp up

Our monthly Colorado Recovery Watch tracks enrollment in food stamps, along with many other indicators of family well being in the state. Read about the rise in need for summer lunch programs, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: Health insurance coverage – Where do Coloradans get insurance?

While a majority of Coloradans have health insurance, many continue to go without. In 2009, 16 percent of Colorado residents were uninsured. Among states, that is the 18th highest rate of uninsurance in the nation. Of insured Coloradans, most were covered under private health insurance, a growing segment was covered by government programs, and a small share was covered by both. The "both" category is not broken out separately, but is included as a part of the public and private shares. Overall, 84 percent reported having health insurance, and 16 percent reported no health insurance.

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

Become a Partner for Justice with CCLP

Our Health Care Program works each day to ensure quality and affordable health care for every Coloradan, but we can't do this important work without your help. Consider a monthly donation of $10, $25 or $50 as a CCLP Partner for Justice.

Colorado news roundup: New report tells of cost of making ends meet for seniors

The Colorado Center on Law and Policy yesterday released the state's Elder Index, a look at the trust cost of meeting basic expenses for seniors in each of the state's counties. Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Sign the petition! Colorado elders need your support!

Please sign a petition urging the President to protect programs that support economic security for elders. Then pass on to others! According to the recently released Colorado Elder Index, many seniors who worked their entire lives (whose incomes are comprised of Social Security, pensions and interest from any savings) are unable to achieve economic security.
Sign the petition now!

Colorado news roundup: Many on insurance exchange board closely tied to industry, each other

Stories raising concerns over the makeup of the board of Colorado's Health Benefit Exchange include remaks from CCLP Health Care Program Director Elisabeth Arenales. CCLP first raised the issue in last week's edition of Health Law and Policy Update. Check it out, along with links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: County poverty and hunger – A mixed picture

There is great variation in poverty and hunger within the state, despite the fact that only 11 counties are large enough to be covered by the American Community Survey’s (ACS) most current annual data.32 Among the 11 out of 64 counties included in the ACS data, poverty rates range from 19 percent in Denver County to 3 percent in Douglas County. Food stamp enrollment ranges from 14 percent of households in Pueblo County to 2 percent in Douglas County. That is a good reminder that a state-level examination of poverty is only the starting point for understanding poverty and economic security in Colorado.

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

Colorado news roundup: Mandatory paid sick leave moves closer to Denver ballot

Paid sick leave would do a lot for workers in Denver trying to achieve economic security. Read about it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

Colorado news roundup: Tax subsidies harm vital public services, commentary says

Eliminating ineffective tax deductions, credits and exemptions would go a long way toward closing Colorado's budget shortfall. Read one writer's take on the issue, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.

State of Working Colorado: County poverty and hunger – A mixed picture

There is great variation in poverty and hunger within the state, despite the fact that only 11 counties are large enough to be covered by the American Community Survey’s (ACS) most current annual data.32 Among the 11 out of 64 counties included in the ACS data, poverty rates range from 19 percent in Denver County to 3 percent in Douglas County. Food stamp enrollment ranges from 14 percent of households in Pueblo County to 2 percent in Douglas County. That is a good reminder that a state-level examination of poverty is only the starting point for understanding poverty and economic security in Colorado.

For more insights, including detailed policy recommendations for enhancing economic security for all Coloradans, check out the State of Working Colorado 2010.

Colorado news roundup: Taxes have one purpose: funding government responsibilities

We could hardly agree more with this commentary in The Denver Post. Read it, plus find links to all the day's public-policy news, at the weekday Colorado news roundup.