Colorado’s Health Insurance CO-OP Opens Board of Directors Applications

1. Consumers Invited to Take Control of Health Insurance Company
Colorado’s Health Insurance CO-OP Opens Board of Directors Applications
Denver, CO, May 20, 2014 — Colorado HealthOP, Colorado’s first statewide health insurance CO-OP,
has initiated a significant shift in how insurance companies are run, introducing greater member
control into an industry that historically has had very little. The CO-OP announced today it is now
seeking applications for its board of directors, inviting nearly 14,000 of its new Colorado members
to run for a seat. The board of directors is elected by CO-OP members, and at least 80 percent of
the board will be comprised of CO-OP members by the end of 2015. Board members will have
formal decision-making authority to initiate changes in the CO-OP that will benefit all CO-OP
members.
“Because Colorado HealthOP is controlled by our members, and not by outside investors, the
CO-OP will become what our members want and need it to be – health insurance that is focused
on improving the health of our members and the health of the communities we serve,” said Julia
Hutchins, chief executive officer of Colorado HealthOP.
In this trailblazing model of member governance, Colorado HealthOP’s board members will be
responsible for ensuring that member interests are reflected in the CO-OP’s decisions and actions,
with an ultimate goal of lowering costs and providing more efficient and valuable health
coverage to Colorado HealthOP members. Specific responsibilities include strategic goal setting,
providing input into budgeting and financial reporting, developing policies for CO-OP business
operations and overseeing the CEO.
“This call for applications represents a revolutionary time in healthcare,” Hutchins said. “Across the
country, health insurance CO-OPs are doing for health insurance what the cooperative model has
done for agriculture, electricity and countless other industries; we are introducing greater
consumer control, improving efficiency and bringing consumer-demanded change to the
healthcare industry.”
Colorado HealthOP opened its board of directors application process on May 1, 2014. Members
can submit applications until July 7, 2014. A Nominations and Outreach committee will review all
applications and conduct two rounds of applicant interviews to develop a diverse slate of
candidates that will be presented to Colorado HealthOP’s members in August. Members will have
the opportunity to vote for their board representatives in September and October. The new 11-
member board will be seated at the CO-OP’s annual meeting in October.
Colorado HealthOP’s founding board of directors, who will continue to oversee the CO-OP’s
operations until the new board is seated, is comprised of a group of volunteer healthcare
professionals, policymakers and advocates.
About Colorado HealthOP
Colorado HealthOP is Colorado’s first statewide nonprofit health insurance CO-OP. As a member-

2. governed alternative to traditional health insurance, Colorado HealthOP and its members are
committed to providing affordable, quality coverage to individuals and employers interested in
making a difference in their own health, their employees’ health and the health of their
community. The CO-OP aims to improve health outcomes by putting the responsibility for
consumers’ care back into the hands of its members and providers. For more information about
Colorado HealthOP, please visit www.COHealthOP.org or call 720.627.8900.
Contact:
Anna Beaty
CSG PR
3225 East 2nd Avenue
Denver, CO 80206
303-433-7020
abeaty@csg-pr.com
http://www.csg-pr.com
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