Colorado is looking for a new health insurance carrier.
Currently, state employees can choose between UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser Permanente. But that could change next summer when the state's contract with these insurers wraps up after five years, so Colorado is considering new providers.
"We can't just have an ongoing relationship without testing the market and get the best value for the taxpayers' dollar,” state spokesman Doug Platt said.
About 35,000 people are eligible for the state's insurance, Platt said.
Colorado set aside more than $280 million for employee health coverage this fiscal year. People with spouses and children on their plans pay between $237 and $639 a month.
Colorado will select a provider early next year, Platt said. Then state employees need to choose their insurance before July.
As for folks with private plans, the open enrollment deadline is on Sunday. People who sign up by then will be covered starting Jan. 1.
The final enrollment deadline is Jan. 15 for plans that go into effect later in 2020.
The state's insurance exchange said more than 40,000 Coloradans enrolled for coverage in November.
