VETERANS HEALTH CARE
Denver—The suicide of a veteran awaiting treatment for PTSD at a Colorado VA clinic has the attention of Colorado U.S. Senator Cory Gardner. Gardner and fellow GOP Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are both asking for an investigation into a whistleblower’s report about the circumstances surrounding the veteran’s death. Gardner wants to know if the report is true that the clinic falsified the veteran’s records after he took his own life. VA spokesman Paul Sherbo says the health and well being of all veterans is a top priority and says the department will work with the inspector general and senators to get to the truth.
COLORADO HEALTH INSURANCE RATES GOING UP
Denver—Prepare to cough up a lot more money for health insurance in Colorado next year…that’s if you can find coverage. According to some grim news from the Colorado Division of Insurance, the cost of individual plans will skyrocket next year by an average of 20.4 percent. The rate hike will impact over 450 thousand Coloradans who are self-insured and don’t qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. For those insured under their small employer’s coverage, the increase will only amount to about 2 percent. State officials say over 90 thousand Coloradans will have to find new coverage next year because their insurance companies have left the market. UnitedHealthcare and Humana won’t offer individual plans next year and Rocky Mountain Health Plans will only offer them in Mesa County.
