Some 155,000 Coloradans who signed up for health insurance through Connect For Health Colorado were able to save 900 dollars per year on average through American Rescue Plan Act tax credits. Those credits have been extended by President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and will be in play as open enrollment begins next week. Kevin Patterson, C-E-O of Colorado's marketplace, said competition remains strong among the state's insurers, and all counties have at least one option for coverage.

"So we're really excited by that. But we just want to make sure people come in and shop, look for the Advanced Premium Tax Credit that has been extended through the Inflation Reduction Act of this year in August, and make sure that they pick a plan that meets their family's needs," Patterson said.

Open enrollment starts November 1 and ends on January 15. After that, if Coloradans lose insurance through their job or experience other qualifying life-changing events, they will be eligible for a 60-day Special Enrollment Period. Colorado's one-stop marketplace allows families to test out plans and prices. It's available at ConnectForHealthCO.com.


Earlier this month, Bright HealthCare informed the Colorado Division of Insurance that it will withdraw from Colorado's health-insurance market for 2023, but Patterson says his team is ready to help current Bright enrollees find the right plan for next year. He says many people aren't aware that they qualify for help keeping the cost of insurance affordable.

"Let's say they're paying around $500 a month, is what their premium would be in a certain situation. On average, we can get that down to about $150, $160 a month, based on what they're shopping for. And so these are really significant savings," Patterson said.

Folks having a difficult time enrolling can call 855-752-6749, or visit 'ConnectForHealthCO.com' to be connected with one of their certified insurance brokers and enrollment assisters. Patterson says these experts don't just provide enrollment services, they provide a continuum of assistance to help you stay covered if your situation changes down the road.

"We have a network of brokers and assisters. You can put in your ZIP code, find what's close to you, and go to someone that's in or real close to your community that you can talk to and figure out 'where do I even start.'"

Coloradans will still be able to get financial assistance to lower the cost of health insurance. Eric Galatas (guh-LATT-us) has more.


Subsidies that lowered average out-of-pocket health-insurance costs by $900 per year for 155,000 Coloradans are still in play during open enrollment, which starts Nov. 1. President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act extended expanded marketplace premium tax credits through 2025. Comments from Kevin Patterson, CEO, Connect For Health Colorado.

I'm Eric Galatas

IRA https://bit.ly/3zbzf3b - Reach Patterson via Monica Caballeros at 720-576-7995.




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With the 2025 legislative session around the corner, the nonprofit advocacy group Alabama Arise said it plans to take aim at poverty and systemic challenges that hit families the hardest.

Big issues like health care access, public transportation and unfair court fines often weigh on lower-income families.

Robyn Hyden, executive director of Alabama Arise, said it is time for state leaders to step up and tackle the concerns.

"Our state, because we underfund state government and we underfund our court systems, we heavily rely on fines and fees that really disproportionately hurt low-income families and working families," Hyden contended.

Hyden believes cutting court fines and fees could be life-changing for some, freeing up money for essentials like food and health care. She highlighted the need for Medicaid expansion, removing the grocery tax and protecting voting rights as top priorities for 2025. State legislators have so far refused to expand Medicaid.

One of the most pressing issues Alabama Arise wants to see addressed is health care during and after pregnancy since the state has among the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality. A new report from Pregnancy Justice shows Alabama led the nation with 104 prosecutions of pregnant people in the year following the Dobbs decision.

Hyden stressed she wants to see an end to the state criminalizing pregnancy-related issues and instead, improving access to prenatal care.

"We don't think that women should be prosecuted because they have a miscarriage," Hyden emphasized. "We believe that health care providers should be able to provide lifesaving care to women in those situations. And we believe that when women are given drugs during labor, which does happen, they should not then be incarcerated or have their children removed."

The legislative session begins in February. Hyden added Alabama Arise is planning an advocacy day in March to unite voices in support of low-income and working families.

Blood banks nationwide and in Arkansas are encouraging people to make a blood donation this time of year and possibly save a life.

Blood donations are used in cancer treatments, for people who have been involved in vehicle crashes and people undergoing surgery.

Erin Goff, donor recruitment director for Our Blood Institute, said they typically see a decrease in donations during the holidays.

"People are busy, people have lives and travel and different things for the holidays to see family," Goff observed. "That means that accidents typically are higher during this time of year and donations are down because people aren't in their local areas."

Seasonal illnesses, school breaks and severe weather also contribute to decreases in donations. O-Negative is the universal blood type and can be used for anyone but she added during the holidays everyone who can donate should, to help keep hospital shelves stocked.

Our Blood Institute provides blood to hospitals in the Little Rock and Fort Smith area. Any Arkansan 16 years old or older can donate. Goff noted donor restrictions have changed throughout the years.

"Sometimes there were people that were in the military overseas that were told they couldn't donate," Goff recounted. "That's not true anymore. People that had tattoos think they can't donate. As long as you had it in a licensed shop you can donate. If you're ever in question, reach out to your local blood center and see if you're eligible to donate."

Goff emphasized only about 6% of people who are eligible to donate do so. According to the American Red Cross, someone in America needs a blood transfusion every two seconds and one donation can save up to three lives.


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In this year's devastating hurricane season, Florida community health centers are proving indispensable in disaster response and recovery, providing far more than medical care.

The back-to-back blows of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton left the region reeling, testing the resilience and adaptability of health care providers.

Kim Schuknecht, chief operating officer of Evara Health in Pinellas County, said they had plans to deploy mobile units to beach communities after Hurricane Helene but Milton's swift arrival and widespread flooding thwarted the efforts.

"By the time we were able to get that all worked out with the mayors of the different areas, here comes Milton," Schuknecht recounted. "We weren't even able after the first hurricane to get out there. That really was an inhibitor for us to be able to go out and do some mobile services because so many areas, we couldn't drive in them."

She pointed out they extended their operating hours to navigate those challenges. While providing services at emergency shelters, they discovered people were asking for help with needs beyond behavioral health and medical care. They ended up gathering supplies so evacuees could take showers in one of the mobile units.

Schuknecht noted one lesson learned is the demands were greater than anticipated, even beyond basic medical care.

"Baby wipes, things that we -- hadn't been through this type of situation before -- things that you just take for granted and don't really think about," Schuknecht explained. "We've learned to have more supplies on hand, different supplies than what we're used to."

As Florida looks ahead to the next hurricane season, Schuknecht noted her operation is refining its emergency preparedness strategies. Plans include more tabletop exercises and strengthening new collaborations, such as a partnership with the Red Cross, which she emphasized will be crucial for future responses.

Schuknecht added this season's experiences have shaped her company's approach to future planning, ensuring they remain a cornerstone of support in the face of Florida's unpredictable storms.

"I think we all learned a lot," Schuknecht acknowledged. "All of the agencies here in the county, including Evara Health, we were very fortunate to be able to have the resources to assist. And we're glad we were called upon to be able to provide the care that we did."


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