Assistance in Navigating the New Online Healthcare Insurance Marketplace

Durango, CO – The Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center and Connect for Health Colorado are providing consulting services to small businesses to facilitate the process of complying with the new Affordable Care Act.

Sue McWilliams, of Lewis, Colorado, is the new Connect for Health Colorado SHOP (Small Business Health Options) Coordinator. She will serve the southwest and central west slope areas of the state.

McWilliams will consult with businesses that have between 2 and 50 employees and explain the options and tax benefits to employers who provide health insurance. She will guide them through the process and answer questions.
She explains, “Connect for Health is new for everybody.

We’re proceeding as quickly as we can.” She attended a 30 hour online training course and had 25 hours of in person training to become certified by the state to provide the assistance to businesses. The training outlined the requirements for small businesses and for individuals to comply with the new Affordable Care Act.

She can also evaluate current health care programs and make recommendations to help business owners with the tax benefits available. “The current deadline is January 1 for compliance, but we’re hoping that will be extended.”
Sue is a native of southwest Colorado and lives in Montezuma County. She worked for the USDA’s Rural Development branch for 18 years as Area Director and Senior Loan Specialist for Rural Development, assisting individuals and businesses on the western slope and in the San Luis Valley. For the past nine years, she has owned a consulting and grant writing business; Aspen Gold Consulting.

For assistance in navigating the new online healthcare insurance marketplace, call the SW Colorado SBDC at 970-247-7009 to schedule an appointment.