Denver, CO
Insurance plan mix-up left 20,000 Colorado Anthem customers out-of-network with UCHealth
Thousands of Anthem BlueCross BlueShield customers who bought an insurance plan that said it included UCHealth got a surprise earlier this summer when they learned the health system actually wasn’t in-network.
Anthem sells two general types of plans on the individual marketplace: those labeled Pathway, which include UCHealth hospitals and doctors, and Pathway Essentials, which don’t. The plan description on the Connect for Health Colorado website mistakenly listed UCHealth as in-network for both types of plans.
Mistakes like that are rare, and this one triggered an open enrollment period from May to July for people who want to switch plans, said Nina Schwartz, senior director of policy and external affairs at Connect for Health Colorado.
When patients go to an in-network provider, they pay an agreed-upon share of their care costs. If they go to an out-of-network provider, they can get stuck with a bill for the difference between the amount their insurer paid and their provider charged. Federal and state law prohibits such “surprise bills” in the case of emergencies, but not for scheduled care.
Dan Weaver, spokesman for UCHealth, said the system knew it wasn’t in-network with the Essentials plans, so the incorrect information had no effect on its operations. The system screens patients so they know if they’re going out-of-network for care, he said.
Anthem estimated about 20,000 people, out of roughly 1.5 million customers in Colorado, had purchased plans involved in the mix-up. It didn’t have information about how many had switched because of it. The company attributed the mistake to a computer error.
“The health of our members is our top priority and we worked quickly with Connect for Health Colorado and the Division of Insurance to correct this mistake,” spokeswoman Emily Snooks said in a statement.
Chris Citron, of Denver, said the news was confusing for her family. She manages an adult relative’s health insurance, and said she had chosen the plan specifically so her relative could stay with familiar doctors, who work at UCHealth.
“I was incredulous,” she said. “I thought that was bait-and-switch.”
The letter customers received said they could continue to see UCHealth doctors at in-network rates for the rest of the year if another provider had referred them to the health system. But Citron said it hasn’t worked out easily for her family so far. She called Anthem multiple times to verify that her relative’s appointment would be covered at in-network rates, but still got an out-of-network bill that she’s trying to sort out.
Ideally, she’d like to sign up with a new plan to keep UCHealth in-network for her relative next year, but isn’t sure if she’ll be able to find one. Most plans sold on the individual marketplace for Denver don’t include that health system.
“I’m really worried, because there are hardly any alternatives,” she said.
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Originally Published:
DENVER (KDVR) — Two officers, one now formerly of the Denver Police Department, face multiple charges relating to separate incidents in the past two months.
According to a release, now-former Denver Police Officer Gabriel Lucero was issued a citation for third-degree assault, official misconduct and false reporting, while Officer Javon Leach was cited for reckless driving and eluding.
The incident involving Lucero reportedly occurred on May 22 just before 1 a.m. in the 500 block of 16th Street. According to a release, Lucero was involved in an assault at a business, as he allegedly assaulted a person and walked away as others continued to assault the victim.
Security guards and an off-duty officer escorted him and the group out; however, Lucero reportedly identified himself as a Denver police officer and attempted to re-enter by using his police badge.
Lucero reportedly provided a false name without any other information, and further investigation verified Lucero as the person involved. Lucero was hired in 2025 and, due to his current probationary status, was fired as of Wednesday.
The incident involving Leach occurred around 1:41 a.m. on June 21, when Leach was reportedly pulling out of a parking lot on Larimer Street, attempting to drive against traffic.
Leach reportedly refused commands to stop as he left the area. Officials said he was found just seven minutes later, traveling at high speeds northbound on Park Avenue West.
He reportedly fled a traffic stop and continued to drive away, and officials deemed Leach to be the suspect following an investigation. He was placed in an off-line assignment while the case progresses, as they are considered misdemeanors.
“The Denver Police Department’s administrative review of Leach’s incident will begin once the criminal case is adjudicated, and that process includes the Denver Department of Safety and the Office of the Independent Monitor, a civilian oversight agency,” the release said.
Denver Nuggets standout forward Peyton Watson could find himself on another team before you know it.
With the Nuggets reportedly open to a sign-and-trade of Watson, could Denver really lose a core piece to their rotation?
It’s hard to imagine many teams being able to shoulder the financial weight of a Watson contract at this point because of the aprons and such, but he’s absolutely an asset to any contending team.
We’ve gone through and identified a few teams that make sense for Watson in the fall… including the one he’s already on at the moment. Hey, he might stay home, you never know!
The Clippers have been linked to Watson as a possible destination; he could help them immensely.
The Pistons have also been linked to Watson, which would help them a lot to contend for an NBA title.
Look, HYPOTHETICALLY, the Nets could move around some cap space with some player trades and such and get a deal done. They are one of the only teams in the NBA right now not in the negative with cap space.
The Grizzlies are the team with the least amount of negative cap space right now, per Spotrac. If they really wanted to pull off a Watson sign-and-trade… it would be hypothetically possible from a money standpoint.
Denver Nuggts
Look, it’s very possible Watson just stays in Denver on a brand-new deal. Who knows at this point?
DENVER (KDVR) – A Denver Park Hill Resident says trash in her alley hasn’t been picked up by city-run waste collection in more than 2 months.
“It’s starting to be frustrating because that pile has been there 2.5 months, and I’m not kidding about that,” Andrea Sanders-Childs said.
A spokesperson for Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) says they did receive a call about the address on Krameria in mid-June and are investigating the case as ‘illegal dumping’ versus ‘missed collection.’
The DOTI spokesperson says more information will be available when the inspector assigned to the area returns on Wednesday.
Sanders-Childs said that the people who live in the home closest to the mess had actually rented a dumpster; however, it was eventually picked up and towed away.
In the meantime, for Denver residents, DOTI provided FOX31 with the following reminders:
- Carts that are overfilled, stuffed or too heavy cannot be emptied
- All trash must be inside the cart, and overflow trash cannot be collected
- To report illegal dumping, call 311
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