Colorado HealthOP Exposes the Crushing Costs of Not Having Health Insurance

Colorado HealthOP, Colorado’s first statewide non-profit health insurance cooperative, today launched a new awareness campaign to educate “young invincibles” about the potential costs of not having health insurance.

Dubbed “#FAIL,” Colorado HealthOP’s online campaign highlights how expensive a careless act can be.

As the December 23 health insurance enrollment deadline approaches, healthy but uninsured Coloradans may overlook the high cost of an unanticipated or unexpected medical issue. In 2011, more than one in 10 Americans experienced an unintentional injury or poisoning, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). CDC data also show that unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among Americans under 45.

“While this campaign is lighthearted, it has a serious message,” said Julia Hutchins, chief executive officer of Colorado HealthOP. “Even if you’re generally healthy, being overzealous or clumsy can have very real financial or health consequences.  Health insurance is about getting covered now so that you won’t be exposed later.”

The campaign kicks off this week and runs through the end of January 2014. It includes a series of #FAIL memes that illustrate the hard costs associated with relatable but scatterbrained injuries.

For example, if you drop a box on your foot and break your toes, it could cost you $18,000 without insurance. The costs were estimated from Healthcarebluebook.com, an online resource that helps consumers “determine fair prices” for healthcare services in their area.

These scenarios are available to the media. Please see included examples. Interested parties can obtain digital artwork from Colorado HealthOP’s media contact, Anna Beaty.

This campaign is solely produced by Colorado HealthOP and is not connected to or endorsed by the state’s health insurance marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado.

Colorado HealthOP’s cooperative business model and value-based benefits allow the non-profit to provide a sustainable health insurance option to Colorado consumers. Coloradans can currently enroll in Colorado HealthOP plans through the state’s marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado. Colorado HealthOP members will be eligible to receive their value-based benefits starting January 1, 2014.

About Colorado HealthOP

Colorado HealthOP offers a new alternative to traditional health insurance in Colorado. A nonprofit health insurance cooperative, Colorado HealthOP and its members are committed to providing affordable, quality coverage to individuals and employers interested in making a difference in their own health, their employees’ health and the health of their community. Colorado HealthOP aims to improve health outcomes by putting the responsibility for consumers’ care back into the hands of the cooperative’s members and providers. A private market solution tailored for individuals and employers, Colorado HealthOP plans are available via Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s health insurance marketplace, and through independent brokers and agents. Coverage will begin January 1, 2014. 

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