2013 Colorado Health Access Survey Data Released November 5th

“The 2013 Colorado Health Access Survey was released November 5th.  The Colorado Health Access Survey – the CHAS – is the premier source of information on health insurance coverage, access to health care and how health care is used in Colorado. Findings from the 2013 CHAS give a detailed picture of Colorado’s changing health landscape. The data will serve another important function as well – providing a baseline of information to help measure the impact of the Affordable Care Act in Colorado. CHAS data will show how many additional Coloradans obtain health insurance, whether it is affordable and whether having health insurance translates into better access to health care.

High-level findings from the 2013 CHAS:

• 741,000 Coloradoans – one of seven residents – does not have health insurance.
• Hispanic Coloradans are disproportionately uninsured. Approximately 26 percent of the population identifies as Hispanic, but 38.6 percent of the uninsured are Hispanic. (See graph below.)
• Nearly 8 percent of Coloradans said they needed mental health services or counseling services in the 12 months before the survey, but did not get them, with the most frequently cited reasons relating to cost.
• More than one of four young adults between the ages of 19 and 26 do not have health insurance, the highest rate among all age groups.

Visit this page to access more findings from the 2013 CHAS.”  [Source:  The Colorado Trust]