The Local, Community Voice for Affordable Healthcare
Communities in southwest Colorado have benefitted from the partnership between Local First Foundation and Peak Health Alliance to bring more affordable health insurance options to local residents and businesses. Our efforts have recirculated $6 million dollars back into the community to date!
Local First partners with the nonprofit Peak Health Alliance to increase market competition by bringing Elevate Health Plans to southwest Colorado. Elevate is sponsored by Denver Health Medical Plan, a nonprofit with a 25-year track record serving over 100,000 members statewide. In southwest Colorado, the plans are available to residents of Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties.
This year, our partnership saved over $620,000 for the 1,730 residents of southwest Colorado who purchased an Elevate plan!
Elevate Health Plans offers ACA-compliant Bronze, Silver, and Gold Colorado Option Plans as well as a Bronze HSA (Health Savings Account) qualified plan to individuals and families who buy their own insurance. The partnership between Peak Health Alliance and Elevate Health Plans includes:
- $0 preventative care services
- $0 to low-cost primary care visits
- $0 to low-cost mental health outpatient visits.
- Local providers including primary care doctors, specialists, and mental health providers (view the provider directory here).
We’re delighted that Elevate is offering a bronze plan with the lowest premiums among HSA-qualified plans for 2025. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) reduce your taxable income when you put money aside to pay for qualified medical expenses. Elevate’s HSA-qualified plan also has one of the lowest out-of-pocket maximums on the market, which means you’ll enjoy greater financial protection for high medical costs.
We hope you’ll give Elevate Health Plans a look for 2025. Be sure to see whether you qualify for a discount on your premiums on Connect for Health Colorado. For example, a 40-year-old earning the average income in La Plata County can save $327 with an advanced premium tax credit.
These plans are also available to businesses who elect to offer an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) for employee coverage. ICHRAs are employer-funded, tax-advantaged health accounts that allow employees to choose their own health plan.
Open Enrollment begins on November 1st. Enroll by December 15th for coverage starting January 1st. Click here to find a qualified insurance broker or enrollment assister to help you navigate your choices at no cost to you!
Have questions? We’re here to help! Contact our healthcare advocate, Doug McCarthy, at 970-799-6618 ext.1, or email doug@local-first.org
Peak Health Alliance
Local First has partnered with the Peak Health Alliance, a Colorado-licensed healthcare purchasing cooperative with a track record of reducing health insurance premiums while maintaining local and high quality care, through the power of community collaboration. Because both Peak Health Alliance and Elevate Health Plans are not-for-profit organizations, they do not have private shareholders and can focus on serving the community.
Mission and Values
We work to provide affordable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare to the residents of southwest Colorado.
Affordable health care available to all.
Benefit to the community and local economy.
Advocate for local healthcare practitioners.
Reduce economic leakage and recirculate dollars locally.
Transparency and accountability.
Maintain the best interest of the community, not special interest groups.
Emphasis on data, evidence, and performance metrics.
Our work started in 2018 in response to a growing concern from local businesses about the rising cost of healthcare. Read the Community Needs Assessment that set us on the path to affordable, local healthcare.
Be Local Radio Playlist
Testimonials
Eric Malone with The Payroll Department shares his story of saving $30,000 when choosing a locally crafted healthcare plan for his employees.
The Powerhouse Behind Our Work.
Steering Committee
Patrick Gerstenberger, MD
Retired Physician
Gary Keil
American Heritage Railways
Jack Llewellyn
Durango Chamber of Commerce
Doug McCarthy
Local First Foundation
Nanette Penz-Reuter
Individual
Suzanne Phare
The Durango Network
Tim Wheeler
Local First
Briggen Wrinkle
Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado
We Need Your Support.
The Local First Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit working to ensure the community's voice is front and center in healthcare. We receive no commissions and are completely outside the healthcare system. We need your support to keep doing our important work to make healthcare more affordable and accountable. Please make a tax-deductible contribution to support our work today. Thank you!