COLORADO: Among the numerous grants available under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is the Consumer Assistance Grant, which would allow Colorado to set up an Insurance Ombudsman Office. Although no state agencies have indicated an interest in housing such a position, several consumer groups see this as an opportunity to broaden their impact on the insurance process. Family Voices Colorado is the one organization that appears to meet most of the grant requirements to be a lead agency. Despite the advocates' interest, the Health Reform Implementation Board expressed serious concerns about the financial sustainability of such an office. The grant funding is only available for one year, and the state does not have sufficient resources in its general fund. The Implementation Director also noted that a carrier assessment was not being viewed as an option.

CONNECTICUT: The House of Representatives last week joined the Senate in overriding the Governor's veto of their campaign finance overhaul bill. However, there's still an injunction in force that was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill on August 11 against all portions of Connecticut's law that were deemed unconstitutional by the Second Circuit. It is expected that the state will swiftly file a motion for relief from the injunction. Campaign finance law in Connecticut will not move forward until the District Court lifts its injunction, as anticipated, in the coming weeks.

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Most Americans who have health insurance are covered through an employer’s plan. However, some employers do not offer health insurance coverage. If you work for one of these companies, you will need to purchase private individual health insurance.There are certain advantages to purchasing health coverage in the private market. Instead of choosing from plans pre-selected by an employer, you decide which plan features you want, and pick a plan accordingly. For example, by choosing a plan with a higher deductible, or one that doesn’t cover certain services, you may realize a substantial premium savings each month.Instead of having your coverage tied to a place of employment, coverage through a private health plan is yours to keep no matter where you work. A health insurer can’t drop you as long as you pay your premiums on time.But along with these advantages come some potential disadvantages—• Employer plans provide considerably more coverage than individual plans, even when you are paying the same premium rate. That’s because with an individual policy, a larger percentage of the premium goes to pay for such operational costs as marketing and paying claims.• A group plan generally must insure all employees and family members, while individual plans can reject applicants who aren’t in perfect health. They can also offer plans that exclude coverage for certain pre-existing conditions.• In most states, private health insurance plan premiums increase as you age. Initially, you can avoid these rate increases by periodically changing plans, because new rates tend to be lower than renewals. However, as you get older, it will become more difficult to find a company to insure you and individual policies will get more expensive.If you do need to shop in the private health insurance market, you first need to find a competent insurance agent.  Determining what kind of insurance you need and how much coverage to buy are complex issues. A good agent will help you assess your situation, and work with you to find the right coverage for your specific needs. The key to a successful working relationship with aninsurance agent is trust. You should be able to trust your agent’s knowledge, experience and professional judgment, and you should always feel secure that your agent is acting in your best interest. But keep in mind that trust is a two-way street: Your agent also needs to trust you to provide information that is truthful and complete.If you are comparing several plans, you need to know what to look for before making a decision. When choosing a health plan ask your health insurance agent the following questions:·   Will the plan cover me for the specific doctor or hospital I would like to use?·   How does the referral system work?·   What pre-existing conditions would affect coverage?·   How will the plan handle care if I (or a family member) am away from home?·   What is the plan’s monthly premium, and what deductible and coinsurance am I required to pay?·   Are there other fees, such as copayments and any additional charges if I use providers that are out-of-network?·   Is there a maximum amount the plan will pay over a year or a lifetime?·   What types of benefits are specific to this plan?The purchase of individual health insurance in the private market can seem confusing. Approach its purchase like you would that of any important item—research your options and compare prices, and get the best advice and assistance you can, in this case, the services of a qualifiedinsurance agent.

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Workers will pay more for their health care next year as U.S. companies prepare for provisions of the overhaul signed into law by President Barack Obama, according to a survey released today.

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