Health & Prevention Report: It's that time of year! Some guidance from a local provider on sorting out next year's health insurance

By Lucas Brady Woods

Published December 9, 2021 at 9:22 AM MST

If you're not someone who gets health benefits from your employer, now's the time to make sure your insurance is in order for next year. That's because it's currently the open enrollment period to sign up for a health plan. In Colorado, the deadline is December 15 to get coverage that starts on the first of the year. On this week's Health and Prevention Report, Lucas Brady Woods speaks with healthcare provider Axis Health Systems to break down the insurance market and why it's important to be covered.

Gary Meisner is the organization's engagement services manager and Haley Leonard-Saunders is its director of public relations and development.

Related Content

Health & Prevention Report: An update from SHS's head of infection control on Southwest Colorado's COVID surge going into the holiday season

Lucas Brady Woods

For the last few weeks, Southwest Colorado has been experiencing one of the worst surges of COVID-19 so far in the pandemic. While that sounds bad, there is some good news in Montezuma County about rising vaccination rates and, maybe, a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. In this week’s Health & Prevention Report, KSJD’s Lucas Brady Woods gets the latest on the local pandemic situation from Marc Meyer, SHS’s head of infection control and pharmacy services.
Health & Prevention Report: The science behind uranium mining's effects on the human body

Lucas Brady Woods

From the 1940s to the 1980s, hundreds of uranium mills opened across the Southwestern US. Historically, the mills provided working-class jobs for the region, especially for tribal communities. But uranium and other heavy metals can be toxic, and many mill workers suffered as a result. Now, the only operating uranium mill left in the US sits just a few dozen miles from Montezuma County, in Southeast Utah. On this week's Health & Prevention Report, KSJD's Lucas Brady Woods talks to Dr. Ed Razma, pulmonologist at Southwest Health System, to get a better idea of what uranium contamination can actually do to a person's health.
Health & Prevention Report: New organization in Mancos aims to help locals navigate mental health resources

Tay Glass

Colorado has the sixth highest suicide death rate in the nation, according to the most recent data from the CDC. But the process of finding resources to improve your mental wellness is complicated and often stigmatized. In this week’s health and prevention report, KSJD’s Tay Glass looks at Mancos United, an up-and-coming nonprofit that wants to make the process of finding help a bit more streamlined.
Health & Prevention Report: Local Pulmonologist Discusses Respiratory Issues In The Four Corners That Go Beyond Wildfire Smoke And COVID-19

Lucas Brady Woods

In the Four Corners region, there are a bunch of environmental and medical factors that can affect respiratory health. Whether that’s wildfire smoke, viruses, or simply allergies, almost no one is completely safe from some sort of respiratory issue around here. But there are also some industrial effects that are specific to the Four Corners - with roots decades old - that leave some of the region’s elderly population particularly vulnerable. For this week’s Health and Prevention Report, KSJD’s Lucas Brady Woods spoke to Dr. Ed Razma, a lung specialist at Southwest Health System in Cortez.
Health & Prevention Report: Gleaning Is One Way To Address Food Insecurity With Leftover Produce That Usually Goes To Waste

Tay Glass

In a survey from 2019, one in ten Coloradans reported they felt like they weren't getting enough food. This problem - food insecurity - stems from individuals not having enough money to feed themselves or their families. In this week's Health & Prevention Report, KSJD's Tay Glass looks at food insecurity in the Four Corners and one potential solution that may be in your back yard.