The Valley Health Alliance, in partnership with five local Chambers of Commerce, are excited to announce a new set of health insurance choices for small businesses and individuals living from Aspen to Parachute.

Watch the recording below to learn about the health plans now available from United Healthcare and Rocky Mountain Health Plan. The video includes a panel of representatives from the insurance companies as well as local employers, doctors and hospital leaders who all worked to bring competition and lower prices to our health insurance market. The panel discussion was followed by a Q+A. Learn about: 

• New options for health insurance plans in the small group and individual marketplaces
• How to enroll
• Alternatives for businesses under the ICHRA program
• How the Valley Health Alliance has worked to lower our health care costs and ensure we all have access to great care

For a brief overview about the new options for the coming year, click here.

The Valley Health Alliance is a nonprofit collaboration of major employers, local hospitals, family and primary care practices, and Chambers of Commerce from Aspen to Parachute. It has worked for several years to improve care and lower costs for businesses and individuals by promoting competition in the insurance market and developing a robust primary care network. Participants include major employers, all five local Chambers of Commerce, three hospitals, primary care doctors from Parachute to Aspen, and Mountain Family Health.

Business owners and managers looking to provide health insurance for their employees now have real options when shopping for a plan. Traditional small group plans are available from two major health insurance providers — UnitedHealthcare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. There is a third option known as ICHRA (pronounced “Ick-rah), a federally-authorized alternative where employers give their employees a monthly allowance to buy an individual or family health insurance plan that fits their unique needs. ICHRA offers budgetary advantages for some businesses and tax advantages for both employer and employee.

Learn more about the options for your business on the Employer Sponsored Insurance page on the Valley Health Alliance website.

Individual Plans:

Rocky Mountain Health Plans has a suite of individual plans available through local health insurance brokers as well as on the Colorado Connect For Health website. Individual plans work for sole proprietors and larger businesses participating in the ICHRA program explained below.

Insurance brokers who can help you find the right individual coverage:

Aspen Chamber Resort Association Members
Mountain West Insurance: 970-945-9111

Aspen

• Devlin Financial Services: 970-925-9090
• Michael Sailor Insurance: 970-920-9500

Rifle

• Nichols Insurance Agency of Western Colorado: 970-625-0411
• Rifle Insurance Agency: 970-625-1689

Glenwood Springs

• Mountain West Insurance: 970-945-9111
• Donni Cochran Insurance Services: 970-945-5598
• Glenwood Insurance Agency: 970-945-9161
• Insurance 4 U: 970-379-9705

Basalt & Carbondale

• Martin Insurance Group: 970-963-6161

Small Group Plans:

United Healthcare is offering plans in the small group market that are available through brokers it has assigned. The local brokers who sell United Healthcare plan include Mountain West Insurance and Glenwood Insurance Agency in Glenwood Springs, and Devlin Financial Services in Aspen.

ICHRA:

Businesses are also able to tap a new program known as the Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement, or ICHRA. This option can be arranged by health insurance brokers who sell individual and group coverage.

The Denver Business Journal explains it this way: “ICHRA is essentially cash for coverage. An employer who wants to offer insurance to employees will traditionally use a group plan. Group plans have their limitations, such as not covering part-time or seasonal employees. ICHRA allows all employees to select their own individual Affordable Care Act-approved health plans, the costs of which are partially reimbursed by employers at dollar amounts predetermined by employers.”

Click Here to Watch the ACRA Business Outlook Forum ICHRA Breakout Session on Facebook