Colorado Reports 171,000 Covered Under Affordable Care Act

DENVER (AP) - Colorado's health exchange on Monday reported selling private health plans to 121,000 people two-thirds of the way through this year's open enrollment period.

In a joint statement, Connect for Health Colorado and the state's health agency said that about 50,000 people had received coverage through the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion or other pre-existing government programs, bringing the total of Coloradans covered since Nov. 15 to 171,000. People who do not receive health insurance from their employer have until Feb. 15 to buy private insurance on the exchange. Qualified Coloradans can sign up for Medicaid year-round.

"I want to urge anyone who hasn't done it yet to take the important step in protecting their families' health and their financial security by purchasing health insurance coverage," said Gary Drews, Connect for Health Colorado Interim CEO. "We can help qualifying individuals and families save on the cost of their coverage but only if they act now.

Last year 124,000 people bought private plans through the state health exchange.

LINK: Connect For Health Colorado