DENVER—Colorado’s high-risk health insurance pool has asked the federal government for nearly $15 million more than planned because claims have been higher that expected.
The Denver Post reported Monday ( ) that the state spent an average of $22,500 per patient in the first year of the program. Reports from other states show the average is about $11,500 per patient.
Colorado received $90 million out of a $5 billion federal pool for coverage for high-risk patients who could not get insurance.
Steve Larsen, who oversees the high-risk pools for the federal Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, says his office will shift money from states that haven’t used theirs as fast to states that are incurring higher costs.
Larsen says eight other states are seeking supplements to their original budget.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
