The Magnitude of Underinsurance in Colorado – Issue Brief

Prepared for The Colorado Trust by the Colorado Health Institute, this issue brief is based on data from the 2008-09 Colorado Household Survey (which later became the the Colorado Health Access Survey). Key findings show that 650,000 Coloradans were underinsured—almost the same number as uninsured residents—and, although individuals over 65 years old usually have Medicare, the highest rate of underinsurance occured among this age group. As well, underinsured Coloradans were more likely to forego medical care and/or report problems paying medical bills than those Coloradans deemed adequately insured.