Comprehensive Patient Advocacy Services
Every service listed below is provided completely free of charge to Colorado residents. Common Sense Healthcare is funded through grants, corporate partnerships, and individual donations — never by charging the patients we serve.
Insurance Navigation Clinics
Our DORA-certified navigators provide one-on-one and group sessions helping Colorado residents understand, compare, and enroll in health insurance coverage. Whether you need help choosing between marketplace plans during Open Enrollment, determining your Medicaid eligibility after a life change, or understanding the differences between HMO, PPO, EPO, and HDHP plan structures, our team walks you through every option in plain language without industry jargon.
Navigation clinics are held weekly at our Denver office and monthly at partner locations including the Denver Public Library system, Sun Valley Community Center, and Mi Casa Resource Center. Walk-ins are accepted during open clinic hours; scheduled appointments receive priority. Spanish-language navigators are available at all scheduled sessions and upon request for walk-in hours. All client information is kept strictly confidential under our organizational privacy policy and applicable HIPAA protections.
- Marketplace plan comparison and enrollment assistance
- Medicaid/CHP+ eligibility determination and application
- Special Enrollment Period qualification review
- Employer-sponsored plan benefits analysis
- Medicare Part D formulary comparison
- COBRA continuation coverage counseling
Clinic Schedule
Medical Bill Review & Negotiation
Our billing specialists analyze your medical invoices line by line, identify errors, and negotiate directly with providers and collections agencies on your behalf.
What We Review
Medical billing errors are far more common than most patients realize. Studies from the American Medical Association estimate that up to 80% of medical bills contain at least one error, ranging from simple duplicate charges to complex upcoding schemes where a provider bills for a more expensive procedure than what was actually performed. Our team reviews every line item against your medical records, the provider's published chargemaster rates, and Medicare's Physician Fee Schedule to identify discrepancies.
- Duplicate and unbundled charge detection
- CPT/ICD-10 code accuracy verification
- Balance billing and surprise billing violations
- Chargemaster rate comparison against fair-market benchmarks
- Collections agency dispute letter preparation
- Payment plan negotiation with providers
Our Results
On average, patients who complete our full bill review process see a 42% reduction in their out-of-pocket medical costs. For patients facing bills over $5,000, the average reduction exceeds $3,200. We have successfully negotiated reductions and write-offs totaling more than $8.2 million since 2013. Our advocates work directly with hospital billing departments, physician practices, and third-party collections agencies. We also file formal complaints with the Colorado Division of Insurance when we identify balance billing or No Surprises Act violations.
Based on 2,100+ completed bill reviews since 2018
Healthcare Rights Workshops
Community-based education sessions empowering patients to understand and exercise their healthcare rights under federal and Colorado state law.
Know Your Rights: The No Surprises Act
Comprehensive overview of federal protections against surprise medical bills, including emergency services, air ambulance transport, and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Covers the Independent Dispute Resolution process, patient consent requirements for out-of-network care, and how to file complaints with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Participants receive a pocket reference card summarizing key rights and complaint filing contact information.
Mastering the Appeals Process
Hands-on workshop walking participants through the internal and external appeal processes for denied insurance claims. Covers the four levels of Medicare appeals, the marketplace external review process, and Colorado's expedited review provisions for urgent medical needs. Includes template appeal letters, documentation checklists, and deadline tracking worksheets that participants take home and use immediately.
Prior Authorization Survival Guide
Practical strategies for navigating the prior authorization maze, including how to work with your physician to document medical necessity, what to do when an authorization is delayed beyond regulatory timeframes, and when to request a peer-to-peer review between your doctor and the insurance company's medical director. Covers Colorado's 2024 prior authorization reform law and the new electronic prior authorization requirements taking effect in 2026.
Employer Benefits Analysis
We partner with Colorado small businesses and HR departments to evaluate employee health benefit packages, identify coverage gaps, and recommend cost-effective alternatives. Our analysis covers medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug benefits along with supplemental offerings like Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and wellness incentive programs. Small businesses with under 50 employees can access our group navigation clinics at no cost. Larger employers may request a comprehensive benefits audit covering plan design, carrier benchmarking, and employee communication strategies.
Request Benefits Review →Prior Authorization Assistance
When your insurance company requires prior authorization for a medication, procedure, or specialist referral, our advocates help you navigate the process from start to finish. We work with your healthcare provider to prepare the clinical documentation, submit the authorization request, track the decision timeline, and file appeals when authorizations are denied or delayed. Our team has successfully overturned more than 3,100 insurance denials since our founding, including prior authorization denials for critical medications, surgical procedures, and specialist referrals.
Get Authorization Help →All Services Are Completely Free
Common Sense Healthcare never charges patients for any service. We are funded through grants from the Colorado Health Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, and individual donations. Ready to get started?
Request Your Free Consultation →