Southwest Health System Partners with Peak Health Alliance to Participate in Elevate Health Plans Network 

Southwest Health System in Cortez will join the Peak Health Alliance network and will accept Elevate Health Plans insurance beginning in 2024, Peak CEO Anne Ladd announced today.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Southwest Health to the Peak Health Alliance network,” said Ladd. “As a critical access hospital, along with six clinics providing primary and specialty care, Southwest Health is a fixture in Montezuma County and southwest Colorado. We know Peak Health Alliance members will appreciate having access the high-quality care that Southwest Health provides.”

The nonprofit Peak Health Alliance has partnered with Elevate Health Plans by Denver Health Medical Plan to bring budget-friendly health insurance coverage to the nine Colorado counties it serves.

The open enrollment period to sign up for coverage began on Nov. 1 for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2024. Rates recently released by the Colorado Division of Insurance confirmed that Elevate Health Plans will be the most budget-friendly health insurance plans in Peak’s nine counties.

“We are proud to join the Peak network and its innovative model of bringing affordable healthcare insurance to individuals, families, and employers,” said Southwest Health Systems CEO Joseph Theine. “Community collaboration is one of our core values, so working alongside Peak Health Alliance and Elevate Health Plans is a natural fit in terms of standing up for the health and well-being of the community we serve.”

Elevate Health Plans are compliant with the Affordable Care Act and use the Colorado Option enhanced benefit plan design. They can be purchased through Connect for Health Colorado or directly through Elevate Health Plans.

As an advocate for affordable coverage in Southwestern Colorado, Peak Health Alliance and Local First Foundation work collaboratively with healthcare leaders and medical practitioners while building better access to both medical and mental health care through local doctor networks.

Because both Peak Health Alliance and Elevate Health Plans are not-for-profit organizations, they do not have private shareholders and can focus on their missions.

Elevate Health Plans offers Bronze, Silver, and Gold Colorado Option Plans to individuals and families who buy their own insurance. These plans are also available to businesses who elect to use an ICHRA (Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement) for employee coverage, which are employer-funded, tax-advantaged health benefits that allow employees to choose their own health plan. At the same time, the employer covers some or all of the premium cost(s).

Elevate Health Plans is owned by Denver Medical Health Plan, which has a quarter-century legacy of providing quality and affordable health care in Colorado.

The partnership between Peak Health Alliance and Elevate Health Plans has built a robust network of providers with comprehensive coverage, including:

• $0 preventative care services
• $0 to low-cost primary care visits
• $0 to low-cost mental health outpatient visits
• Local in-network providers, including specialists, primary care doctors, and mental health providers.

Consumers can shop for health insurance plans between Nov. 1, 2023, through Jan. 15, 2024. For coverage to begin on Jan. 1, individuals will need to select a plan by Dec. 15.

Peak Health Alliance was formed in 2019 in Summit County when that county had some of the most expensive health premiums in the country. In the first three years of operations, Peak Health Alliance saved community members in eight rural mountain counties more than $16.1 million.

Those savings were achieved by analyzing health insurance claims data and other publicly available health care cost data pertinent to the communities Peak Health Alliance serves.  This analysis becomes the starting point for conversations between the community and local hospitals, medical professionals, and insurance carriers.

In Southwestern Colorado, Peak Health Alliance works closely with the Local First Foundation to ensure community needs are met.

Southwest Health System operates Southwest Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital, and Southwest Medical Group’s six clinics providing primary and specialty care services. SHS provides over 50 service lines to the community. SHS is a private, not-for-profit corporation operating under all guidelines and regulations for non-profits and is also governed by a volunteer board. For more information, visit www.swhealth.org.

Download the full press release. | Contact: Doug McCarthy, doug@local-first.org