December 2015


New Delta Dental of Colorado Website
Delta Dental of Colorado recently unveiled our new website, with a cleaner, more modern look and feel. You should continue using your same username and password. Nothing has changed once you log in to your secure account, only the public-facing pages have look different.

The broker landing page (pictured to the left) has the same information as before, with additional information that was previously on other pages consolidated there as well (like forms and some frequently asked questions about getting appointed), so it's more of a "one-stop shop" for you.

In addition, you can now log in from any page on the website by using the Broker Login link on the green bar at the top of every page.

Reminder: New Quoting Procedures
We have new procedures for quoting groups of two to 50 lives.  For 2016 quotes , please email all information requested on the new  Quote Checklist  to  [email protected] . Quotes will be returned within two business days.  For remaining 2015 quotes in the 2-50 employee segment , the existing online process will remain in effect into December.
HEALTH CARE REFORM NEWS

Obamacare Sign-Ups Could Get A Bump As Higher Penalties Kick In
National Public Radio, December 15, 2015
This is the last week to choose a health plan under the Affordable Care Act if you want insurance coverage to begin by Jan. 1. And officials who have spent the past two years using the carrot of persuasion to get people to buy insurance through the state or federal exchanges say the time has come for the stick.

Connect for Health Colorado® and Colorado Medicaid Report Enrollment Gains Topping 145,000
Connect for Health Colorado, December 16, 2015
Between Nov.1 and Dec. 15, more than 145,000  Coloradans enrolled in health coverage for 2016, either in private health insurance purchased through the state health insurance Marketplace or in Medicaid, or Child Health Plan Plus  (CHP+), according to new data released today by Connect for Health Colorado® and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Insurance companies will crack down on cyber security in 2016: Report
CIO, December 3, 2015
Cyber security insurance is set to become more sophisticated in 2016, forcing enterprises to meet new security requirements to be eligible for coverage, according to a new report.
Predictions by combined company, Raytheon/Websense, said cyber insurance will move toward a 'must have' and 'evidence based' model with new minimum level requirements in place for policies. This is expected to disrupt the cyber security industry and place new challenges on IT workers, while also driving improvements in companies' ability to handle threats.

Kaiser Permanente to open medical school
Modern Healthcare,  December 17, 2015
Permanente will open its own independent medical school in Southern California, with its first class expected to enroll in fall 2019.

COLORADO NEWS

Colorado economic forecast: Continued growth, but not as robust
Denver Business Journal, December 7, 2015
Colorado will continue a healthy pace of job growth in 2016, but not at as robust a pace as 2015 and well short of 2014's mark, when job growth peaked at 3.3 percent annual growth following the recession.

Federal highway bill tweak saves Colorado $43.7 million
The Denver Post, December 16, 2015
The massive spending bill that Congress unveiled this week contains one goodie for the Colorado delegation - a change to a recent  highway funding bill t hat translates into $43.7 million in savings for the state's transportation agency.

COLORADO COMPANY NEWS

Smashburger announces expansion plans in Texas, Alaska and California
Denver Business Journal, December 8, 2015
Denver hamburger chain  Smashburger  said it's signed franchising deals with franchisees who will open a total of 15 new restaurants in Alaska, Texas and California.

Sunrun Announces Opening of New Corporate Office in Denver
CNN Money, December 11, 2015
Sunrun, the largest dedicated residential solar company in the United States, today announced Denver, Colo. as the location for its newest corporate office. The company expects to open an office in downtown Denver before the end of 2015 and plans to hire up to 800 workers over the next few years.

Delta Dental of Colorado
1-800-610-0201