Elevated Community Health, a nonprofit health center, launched Elevated Essentials, a direct primary care membership program offering flat-rate access to services including primary care, dental, and behavioral health. The program, which launched on December 15, is the first-of-its-kind at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Colorado, according to CEO Josh Cogdill. With loss of federal health care subsidies, skyrocketing insurance premiums, and expected Medicaid cuts coming in 2027, expanding access to affordable health care has become essential to the nonprofit’s mission.
Elevated Essentials offers four membership options within individual and small business plans: primary care, a baby plan, dental, and behavioral health, with a bundled plan that includes both primary care and dental benefits. Rather than one-size-fits-all, families can choose different plans for each member. Each plan is inclusive of most services with limited exclusions. Those with existing health insurance cannot sign up for a primary care plan but can complement existing coverage with dental or behavioral health plans. Enrollment is open year-round to anyone with no income restrictions.
The program aims to bridge the gap between traditional health care and Medicaid by serving residents in mountain communities who fall through the cracks—those not receiving employer health benefits but earning too much to qualify for Medicaid or the nonprofit’s Care Card. Founded in 1993 as a volunteer-run clinic in Summit County, Elevated Community Health has grown into a regional provider delivering patient-centered care with offices in Summit, Lake, and Park counties while serving patients from neighboring communities. The nonprofit provides a full range of services including primary care, pharmacy, dental, vision, and mental health to patients regardless of insurance status.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.summitdaily.com/news/local-nonprofit-health-center-launches-flat-rate-membership/