Colorado HealthOP Exposes the Crushing Costs of Not Having H

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anna Beaty303.433.7020 abeaty@COHealthOP.org Colorado HealthOP Exposes the Crushing Costs of Not Having Health Insurance CO-OP’s #FAIL Campaign Uses Campy Scenarios to Show the High Costs of Failing to be Covered Denver, CO, Dec 10, 2013 - Colorado HealthOP, Colorado’s first statewide non-profit health insurance cooperative, today launched a new awareness campaign to educate “younginvincibles” about the potential costs of not having health insurance. Dubbed “#FAIL,” Colorado HealthOP’s online campaign highlights how expensive a carelessact 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 medicalissue. In 2011, more than one in 10 Americans experienced an unintentional injury orpoisoning, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). CDC data alsoshow 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 overzealousor clumsy can have very real financial or health consequences. Health insurance is aboutgetting 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 aseries of #FAIL memes that illustrate the hard costs associated with relatable butscatterbrained injuries. For example, if you drop a box on your foot and break your toes, it could cost you $18,000without insurance. The costs were estimated from Healthcarebluebook.com, an onlineresource that helps consumers “determine fair prices” for healthcare services in their area. To check out the #FAIL memes, visit Colorado HealthOP’s social media channels, includingFacebook, Twitter and Instagram. 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.

2. This campaign is solely produced by Colorado HealthOP and is not connected to orendorsed by the state’s health insurance marketplace, Connect for HealthColorado. Colorado HealthOP’s cooperative business model and value-based benefits allow the non-profit to provide a sustainable health insurance option to Colorado consumers. Coloradanscan currently enroll in Colorado HealthOP plans through the state’s marketplace, Connectfor 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 committedto providing affordable, quality coverage to individuals and employers interested in makinga 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 forconsumers’ care back into the hands of the cooperative’s members and providers. A privatemarket solution tailored for individuals and employers, Colorado HealthOP plans areavailable via Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s health insurance marketplace, andthrough independent brokers and agents. Coverage will begin January 1, 2014. For moreinformation about Colorado HealthOP, please visit www.cohealthop.org or call 720.627.8900. ###