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• Colorado moving to curb health insurance costs

  December 3, 2012 12:50 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Colorado officials say health care reform has given them the power to curb insurance rate hikes. Those curbs helped the state block a 24 percent increase request by Cigna. According to the Denver Post, Cigna wanted to raise rates for individual health policies in 2013 by 31... more »

• Free surgeries given today at Pueblo Surgery Center

  November 10, 2012 5:05 PM

  Imagine needing surgery but not having insurance or enough spare money to make it happen. For the fifth year, eleven doctors donated their time and skills to help out those in need with free surgeries. Some of these surgeries normally cost thousands of dollars. Around 30 surgeries took place today... more »

• State insurance commissioner named

  June 27, 2011 7:07 PM

  DENVER (AP) - State Rep. Jim Riesberg of Greeley has been named Colorado's new insurance commissioner. Gov. John Hickenlooper said Monday that the Democratic lawmaker will start work July 1. He will replace John Postolowski, who was appointed as interim commissioner in December. Postolowski will return to his position as... more »

• Governor vetoes fees on kids' health care program

  May 31, 2011 8:21 PM

  DENVER (AP) - Gov. John Hickenlooper has vetoed a bill requiring parents to contribute more to a health insurance plan for low-income children. Hickenlooper said in a statement Tuesday the bill "poses adverse consequences" for access to the Children's Health Plan Plus. The Democrat says he respects lawmakers' intent... more »

• House Oks limits on tax breaks for abortions

  May 4, 2011 10:47 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has approved a bill that would limit tax breaks for insurance policies that cover abortions. The 251-177 vote Wednesday sent the bill to the Democratic-led Senate. The White House this week threatened to veto it. The legislation is the Republicans' latest attempt to... more »

• Memorial issue to be taken off April ballot

  January 24, 2011 2:01 PM

  It seems a controversial ballot measure that would have made Memorial Health Systems a non-profit will not show up on this April's ballot. This morning a Mayor's Task Force agreed to ask city council to suspend plans to put the ballot measure to an April vote. One of the biggest... more »

• It may take months for insurance claims in I-25 pileup

  November 15, 2010 10:06 PM

  Monday morning's pileup on I-25 near Larkspur has started a chain reaction of insurance assessments, claims, and paperwork. "The insurance companies are going to look at who caused the damage to which cars. How many cars are you responsible for?" explains Rob Edgin, an insurance agent for American National... more »

• Progressive to hire 200 in Colorado Springs

  September 29, 2010 4:16 PM

  The local job market just got 200 times better. Progressive Insurance plans to hire 200 new employees to work at their Colorado Springs call center. The company is taking application from now until the end of January. The company says they've had an influx of new customers and... more »

• Insurer sent private firefighters to Boulder blaze

  September 21, 2010 4:26 PM

  Some homes threatened by a Colorado wildfire were protected by a private team of firefighters hired by an insurance company. The Boulder Daily Camera reported Tuesday that the crew hired by Chubb Corp. was operating under an agreement the insurance company has with Boulder County. The agreement limits... more »

• Boulder wildfire expected to be Colorado's costliest

  September 17, 2010 8:25 AM

  Insurance industry officials believe the fire that scorched about 6,200 acres west of Boulder will be the costliest in Colorado's history, surpassing the 2002 Hayman fire that blackened 138,000 acres. Carole Walker of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association said Thursday that the wildfire will be the state's most... more »

• Wildfire evacuation checklist

  September 8, 2010 12:27 PM

  The devastating Fourmile Canyon Wildfire in Boulder County has many residents in fire-prone area on edge, and thinking about how to protect themselves. The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association has offered a list of what to take along if you are evacuated ahead of a wildfire. This is a... more »

• Colorado Springs on list of safest drivers

  September 3, 2010 8:37 AM

  Anyone who's nearly been run-down by insane drivers on Academy or Powers may dispute this--but Allstate Insurance ranks Colorado Springs as the fourth-safest driving city with the average driver involved in a collision every 12.5 years. The list was released Thursday of the country's 200 largest cities based on... more »

• Colorado reaches agreement on worker's comp

  August 24, 2010 8:25 AM

  The Colorado Division of Insurance has canceled a hearing with the state chartered worker's compensation company after reaching a settlement on rates. The Colorado Division of Insurance said Monday that Pinnacol Assurance has reached a tentative agreement on the state's four key concerns about rates. Pinnacol's board of directors... more »

• More Colorado teens waiting to get drivers' licenses

  July 19, 2010 3:35 PM

  More Colorado teens are waiting to get their drivers' licenses. State data shows the number of 16- and 17-year-olds with licenses has gradually declined over the last several years. From 2004 to 2008, the number of licenses issued to minors fell by about nine percent even though the number... more »

• Homeowners advised to be prepared during fire season

  June 24, 2010 6:59 PM

  Insurance experts recommend planning for fire for people living in Colorado. "This week is Colorado Lightning Safety and Wildfire Awareness Week and these fires are a vivid reminder of how little time there is to react when a wildfire threatens," says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain... more »

• Expect huge increases in medical insurance in 2011

  June 14, 2010 8:23 AM

  President Barack Obama's massive health care overhaul, passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, is about to cost us all a fortune. Insurance expenses to employers will soar next year--and those costs will be passed along to all of us. A consulting firm says U.S. companies... more »

• Hail damage last week estimated at $70 million

  June 4, 2010 1:23 PM

  The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association reports $70 million in damage from a hail and windstorm that hit Colorado last week. So far, approximately 13,600 auto and homeowners insurance claims filed. The storm included baseball-sized hail and high winds that damaged homes and cars around Brighton, Commerce City and... more »

• Insurers bracing for Colorado storm claims

  May 28, 2010 8:09 AM

  Colorado residents and insurance companies are just starting to assess the damage from Wednesday's blast of tornados and thunderstorms, but the bill likely will be big. Carole Walker of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association said Thursday that the larger insurance companies expect the damages to run into the... more »

• Lawmakers agree to extend unemployment benefits

  May 20, 2010 10:02 AM

  Lawmakers have agreed on legislation to extend expanded unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed through the end of the year. Laid off workers would also continue to get subsidies to buy health insurance through the COBRA program. House and Senate leaders announced the deal Thursday morning on a bill... more »

• Anthem Blue Cross postponing rate hike again

  April 24, 2010 10:11 AM

  Anthem Blue Cross has again put a planned rate hike on hold. The Los Angeles-based health insurance company said this week that policyholders will not see a rate change beginning May 1. A spokeswoman for Anthem's parent, Wellpoint Inc., Kristin Binns, told the Los Angeles Times in a story Friday... more »

• Colorado governor to sign health care legislation

  April 20, 2010 9:44 AM

  Gov. Bill Ritter is announcing his plans to implement national health care reform in Colorado. Ritter plans to sign four bills Tuesday that he says will advance the state's ongoing initiatives to contain health care costs, improve quality and make care and coverage more available. He will be joined by... more »

• Colorado unemployment insurance tax rate hikes ahead

  April 19, 2010 8:32 AM

  The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment says Colorado employers that laid off workers during the recession face hikes in their first-quarter unemployment-insurance taxes, but the half that didn't cut workers are seeing rates stay flat or decline. The department estimates the average rate or premium that employers will pay... more »

• Health reform to cover hefty charity care expenses

  March 26, 2010 7:46 PM

  The health care reform is suppose to save hospitals tens of millions of dollars each year. Right now, the major hospitals in Southern Colorado treat patients, even if they don't have insurance and it's running up a big tab. The cost for treating the uninsured and under insured is... more »

• UPDATE: How will health care reform impact hospitals?

  March 26, 2010 3:47 PM

  I just got back from the field. Here's what I found out. The new health care legislation could save hospitals tens of millions of dollars. In 2014, a mandate will kick in, requiring every American be insured. Right now the major hospitals in Southern Colorado treat patients, even if they... more »

• How will health care reform impact hospitals?

  March 26, 2010 11:52 AM

  Today I'm working on a story about how the new federal health care legislation will impact hospitals. In 2014, a mandate will kick in, requiring every American be insured. Right now, hospitals spend millions of dollars a year treating people who don't have insurance. For example, St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center... more »

• Would partners of gay troops get benefits, too?

  March 26, 2010 10:24 AM

  If gay service members are allowed to serve openly, the military will face another tough question: Should gay partners be entitled to military benefits? Momentum appears to be building for ending the ban on gays in the military. New rules ordered Thursday by Defense Secretary Robert Gates make it... more »

• Senate to take up unemployment insurance extension

  March 9, 2010 9:01 AM

  Senate Democrats need to muster support today from at least one Republican in a test vote on legislation extending unemployment insurance for the long-term jobless. The bill could gain momentum because it contains about 60 popular tax breaks for individuals and businesses that expired at the end of last year.... more »

• Obama: Health overhaul will stop insurers' abuses

  March 8, 2010 10:35 AM

  President Barack Obama says his health care overhaul plan is needed to stop insurance companies from raising prices and refusing to cover people who are already sick. Obama says insurers believe they can continue raising rates and refusing to cover the ill because there is so little competition among health... more »

• Anthem Blue Cross sued over price hikes

  March 1, 2010 7:21 PM

  A group suing Anthem Blue Cross claims California's largest for-profit health insurer is manipulating coverage and forcing patients into policies with higher deductibles but fewer benefits. Consumer Watchdog filed the lawsuit Monday in Ventura County Superior Court. It accuses Anthem of violating a state law requiring health insurers to... more »

• Worker's comp company offers $200M to Colorado

  February 16, 2010 11:52 AM

  Colorado's state-chartered worker compensation insurer has offered the state $200 million for greater autonomy. In exchange, Pinnacol Assurance would remain the state's workers' compensation insurer of last resort and keep its tax-exempt status. The company assets have been valued at $2 billion. Any deal would need legislative approval. Sen. Lois... more »

• New jobless claims last week: 432,000

  December 31, 2009 9:07 AM

  The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits dropped unexpectedly last week, a sign the job market is healing as the economy slowly recovers. The Labor Department says that new claims for unemployment insurance fell by 22,000 to a seasonally adjusted 432,000, the lowest since July 2008.... more »

• Plans in Colorado would block health care overhaul

  December 31, 2009 8:34 AM

  Federal health insurance reforms are still taking shape, but at least two efforts are under way in Colorado to blunt possible impacts. Jon Caldara of the Independence Institute said Tuesday he is trying to develop a ballot proposal that would bar the state from requiring its citizens to purchase health... more »

• Lieberman resists Medicare buy-in plan

  December 14, 2009 10:51 AM

  Republicans say you shouldn't bet on a health care bill coming out of the Senate before Christmas. Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell says Americans are "overwhelmingly opposed" to the bill. McConnell says it's a stretch to think the Senate will ignore public opinion and "jam this through before Christmas." Independent... more »

• Man says cows licked $100 in damage to house

  December 7, 2009 11:35 AM

  A Tennessee man's homeowners insurance apparently doesn't cover "acts of cow." Jerry Lynn Davis called the Hawkins County Sheriff's office on Thursday, complaining that a neighbor's cows had been licking his house. In the process, Davis says the curious bovines did about $100 in damage by ripping off a screen... more »