![The Colorado State Captiol. March 12, 2020. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)](https://www.cpr.org/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto/https://wp-cpr.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2020/04/200312-COLORADO-STATE-CAPITOL-GOLD-DOME-CORONAVIRUS-KEVINJBEATY-1.jpg)
When it comes to health care, the high cost is often a barrier. It can mean not being able to afford insurance, inequity in treatment, and delaying care altogether. Colorado's new Public Option is supposed to address these issues. State lawmakers passed a bill to create the option in this year's legislative session, but no one knows yet what it'll look like. The state, along with insurers, doctors and hospitals, have a year to figure it out.
Senator Kerry Donovan, a Democrat from Vail, sponsored the legislation. Michael Conway is the insurance commissioner with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.