Gov. Ritter Signs HB 1242 as Part of 2010 Health Care Agenda

Press Release

Gov. Bill Ritter today signed House Bill 1242, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Apuan and Sen. Lois Tochtrop, which will require insurance carriers to accept a standard initial application.

"House Bill 1242 is another great building block to simplify the application process for consumers in the individual health insurance market," Gov. Ritter said. "This bill makes it easier for Coloradans seeking individual health insurance by reducing the amount of paperwork involved."

House Bill 1242, part of the Governor's 2010 health care agenda, requires that the Commissioner of Insurance implement a uniform application form for individual health benefit plans.

Individuals are often required to approach more than one insurer to determine the best and most affordable plan meeting their needs. However, to do so, they must complete a separate application for each individual insurance provider. These applications are burdensome, requiring applicants to provide comprehensive information regarding their medical history and answer lengthy questionnaires which vary from carrier to carrier.

House Bill 1242 eliminates this burden on the consumer by creating a standardized initial application.

"This bill was created with the consumer in mind. By having one master application, we are helping consumers choose the best carrier for their needs by being able to easily compare prices and offerings," Rep. Apuan said. "We are saving consumers' time while promoting healthy competition among businesses. Are you tired of filling out multiple forms as you look for insurance? It is time for us to tell consumers that yes; there is finally an app for that!"

"House Bill 1242 allows consumers to better identify the carrier most willing to take them on, saving consumers time by not filling out unnecessary paperwork for carriers not willing to cover them," said Sen. Tochtrop.

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