Denver, CO -- One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families released the following statement from Executive Director Daniel Ramos on the changes to the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) Non-Discrimination Protections based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

“Effective today, LGBTQ Coloradans benefit from even stronger nondiscrimination protections when accessing Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI)-regulated health insurance coverage. We applaud our partners at DOI for putting into regulation prohibitions on discrimination based upon sexual orientation and gender identity. This rule further clarifies that all Coloradans - including our transgender friends and family - deserve access to affirming healthcare.”

- Executive Director Daniel Ramos

This policy strengthens Bulletin No. B-4.49 “Insurance Unfair Practices Act Prohibitions on Discrimination Based Upon Sexual Orientation” by putting it into Code of Colorado Regulations 4-2-62 “Concerning Insurance Unfair Practices Act Prohibitions on Discrimination Based Upon Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity,” effective Monday, April 1, 2019. It enforces that carriers may not engage in unfair discrimination due to sexual orientation or gender identity between individuals of the same class related to cost, quality of coverage, and the terms and conditions of an insurance policy. It further prohibits carriers from denying, limiting, canceling, and/or limiting coverage based on conditions that correspond to a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.