For individual and family health insurance, Colorado residents use the state exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, not HealthCare.gov. Open Enrollment for 2027 runs Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 (Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage). Only plans bought there get federal tax credits plus Colorado Premium Assistance.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Colorado 2027 at a glance
- How Connect for Health Colorado works
- 2027 Open Enrollment dates
- Colorado’s state programs
- Federal subsidies and the 400% cliff
- Insurers for 2027, and Cigna’s exit
- Health First Colorado and CHP+
- OmniSalud for immigrant Coloradans
- Denver, Colorado Springs and the rest of the state
- Free help and consumer protection
- Renewal checklist
- Frequently asked questions
Health insurance Colorado 2027 at a glance
Colorado runs its own exchange and adds state programs on top of federal subsidies, so the rules differ from HealthCare.gov states in important ways. Here is the short version; every row is explained below.
| Topic | Colorado for the 2027 plan year |
|---|---|
| Exchange | Connect for Health Colorado (state-based) |
| Open Enrollment | Nov 1, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027 (Dec 15 for Jan 1 coverage) |
| Medicaid expansion | Yes, since Jan 1, 2014 (Health First Colorado) |
| Children’s coverage | Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) |
| State help | Colorado Premium Assistance, reinsurance, Colorado Option, OmniSalud |
| Average 2027 rate change | About 10% individual market, per the Division of Insurance |
| Carrier changes | Cigna leaving; Colorado Access joining |
| Regulator | Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) |
If cost is the main question, our affordable health insurance Colorado hub walks through income limits and every way to lower a premium.
How Connect for Health Colorado works
Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace, and it is the only place Coloradans can get the federal premium tax credit. You can enroll on connectforhealthco.com, through a certified broker or assister, or with a licensed agent connected to it.
Every plan sold there covers essential benefits like primary care, hospital stays, prescriptions, maternity and mental health care, and none can refuse you for a pre-existing condition. Plans come in Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers, and Colorado Option plans sit alongside standard plans.
Heads-up: Connect for Health Colorado’s website, application and customer service are down for maintenance October 20–27, 2026, according to its What’s New page. Plan ahead if you need to update an account before Open Enrollment.
A HealthCare.gov account won’t work here. If you moved from another state, create a new account with Connect for Health Colorado. Our health insurance Marketplace explainer covers how exchanges work in general.
2027 Open Enrollment dates in Colorado
Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, the same dates as last year, according to Connect for Health Colorado. Enroll by December 15 for coverage starting January 1; enroll December 16 through January 15 for a February 1 start.
Returning customers are automatically re-enrolled at the start of Open Enrollment, per the exchange’s plan year 2027 page. Auto-renewal is a safety net, not a strategy: your plan, its network and your credit may all change for 2027.
Outside Open Enrollment, a qualifying life event such as a move, job loss, marriage or birth opens a Special Enrollment Period. See our Open Enrollment 2027 guide for the national timeline.
Colorado’s state programs that lower costs
Colorado layers several state programs over federal rules. They are the main reason health insurance Colorado shoppers see different numbers than people in HealthCare.gov states.
Colorado Premium Assistance
Colorado Premium Assistance is extra state financial help applied automatically for eligible customers who enroll through Connect for Health Colorado; there’s nothing to opt into. A 2026 law, SB26-178, keeps it funded for 2027, and the exchange says it helped more than 176,000 people in 2026, per its SB26-178 update.
Reinsurance
Colorado’s reinsurance program, approved through a federal waiver, runs through December 31, 2027, according to the Division of Insurance. The DOI estimates it lowers 2027 individual premiums by 17.1% statewide compared with what they’d be without it.
The Colorado Option
Colorado Option plans are standardized plans that carriers must offer to individuals and small employers, with required premium reductions, per the DOI. For 2027 they continue to cover primary care and mental health visits with no out-of-pocket cost.
Honesty.AI estimates your 2027 credit and compares every Colorado plan for your ZIP code in minutes.
Federal subsidies and the 400% cliff
The enhanced federal tax credits of 2021–2025 expired on December 31, 2025. For 2027 coverage, the original premium tax credit applies. In Colorado it mainly helps households from 138% to 400% of the poverty level, since most adults below 138% qualify for Health First Colorado instead.
The credit caps what you pay for the benchmark Silver plan at 2.15% to 10.22% of income under IRS rules. Above 400%, which is $63,840 for one person or $132,000 for a family of four, there’s no federal credit for 2027. The 2027 out-of-pocket maximum is $12,000 for one person and $24,000 for a family.
The DOI’s final 2027 rates rise an average of 10% in the individual market, below the 15% national median KFF found in proposed rates. Our 2027 subsidies guide has the full applicable-percentage table.
Health insurance Colorado carriers for 2027, and Cigna’s exit
Cigna is leaving Colorado’s individual market after December 31, 2026, and Colorado Access is the only new carrier for 2027. Cigna customers get a Special Enrollment Period through March 1, 2027, but the simplest move is to pick a new plan by December 15 so there’s no gap.
Carriers remaining for 2027 include HMO Colorado (Anthem), Denver Health Medical Plan, Kaiser Permanente, Rocky Mountain HMO and Select Health, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. Colorado Access sells in 14 counties across four rating areas, including Denver and Colorado Springs.
Not every carrier sells in every county, and networks vary a lot between them. Check that your doctors and hospital are in-network for 2027 before you choose, using our guide on how to choose a health plan.
Health First Colorado and CHP+
Health First Colorado is Colorado’s Medicaid program, and the state expanded it to adults up to 138% of the poverty level on January 1, 2014, per KFF. For one adult that’s about $22,025 for 2027. Apply through Colorado PEAK or the Connect for Health Colorado application.
Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) covers children 18 and under and pregnant people with income under 260% of the poverty level. Health First Colorado also warns that a new federal law changes immigrant eligibility starting October 2026 and new rules affect some adults ages 19 to 64, so watch your mail and renew on time.
OmniSalud for immigrant Coloradans
OmniSalud lets Coloradans who can’t use federal subsidies because of immigration status buy coverage through Colorado Connect, with a limited number of subsidized SilverEnhanced Savings spots for incomes under 150% of the poverty level. Details are on Connect for Health Colorado’s OmniSalud page.
For 2027, returning SilverEnhanced members keep their spot only if they re-enroll November 1–30, 2026. Remaining spots go to a lottery that closes November 30, with the drawing December 1. Federal subsidy rules for lawfully present immigrants also tighten on January 1, 2027; see the immigrant section of our subsidies guide.
Denver, Colorado Springs and the rest of Colorado
Health insurance Colorado rules are statewide, but local hospitals, clinics, military bases and rates change the advice. Our city guides cover Colorado’s two biggest search markets:
- Health insurance in Denver: Denver Health’s safety-net role, Tepeyac and Stout Street clinics, and Colorado’s Hospital Discounted Care law.
- Health insurance in Colorado Springs: TRICARE for military families, Peak Vista community health centers, and wildfire-season paperwork tips.
Rates vary by region. The DOI’s 2027 averages range from 5.9% in one rating area to 15.5% in the Grand Junction area, so mountain and Western Slope residents should shop especially carefully.
Free help and consumer protection
Connect for Health Colorado works with 89 partner organizations at 182 locations for 2027, per the exchange’s update on rising costs. Find a free certified assister on its assister page or call customer service at 855-752-6749.
For a denied claim or billing dispute, contact the Colorado Division of Insurance at 303-894-7499 or 800-930-3745. About 5.9% of Coloradans were uninsured in 2025, according to the Colorado Health Access Survey, and many of them qualify for help they haven’t claimed.
A Colorado renewal checklist for fall 2026
Colorado’s calendar has a few extra dates that HealthCare.gov states don’t. Work through this list in order and you’ll be ready on November 1.
- Before October 20: log in to Connect for Health Colorado and confirm your address, household and income. The site is offline October 20–27 for maintenance.
- Cigna members: your plan ends December 31, 2026. Pick a replacement during Open Enrollment rather than relying on the later Special Enrollment Period.
- OmniSalud members: re-enroll between November 1 and November 30 to keep a SilverEnhanced Savings spot.
- Everyone: update your 2027 income estimate. The federal credit and Colorado Premium Assistance are both based on it, and the federal credit is reconciled on your 2027 tax return.
- Compare a Colorado Option plan against standard plans in the same metal tier. The benefit design and network can differ even when premiums look close.
- Enroll by December 15 for continuous coverage on January 1, 2027.
Shoppers who follow these steps usually find the health insurance Colorado plan that fits their doctors and budget, rather than the one they happened to roll into.
How Honesty helps Coloradans
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent, and it works on your side. It explains Colorado’s state programs in plain English, compares plans for your ZIP code, checks doctors and prescriptions, and lays out ACA, alternative and ancillary plans side by side based on your family’s needs.
There’s no office to visit for health insurance. Colorado residents reach Honesty 24/7 by chat, voice or text. Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC (NPN 21094885) is licensed in Colorado and in 49 states plus DC. Learn how Honesty.AI works.
Your 2027 Colorado plan, compared honestly
Understand your federal credit and Colorado Premium Assistance, see every plan in your county and pick with confidence, by chat, voice or text. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
Does Colorado use HealthCare.gov?
No. Colorado runs its own exchange, Connect for Health Colorado. It is the only place Coloradans can get the federal premium tax credit and Colorado Premium Assistance for individual coverage.
When is Open Enrollment for 2027 in Colorado?
Open Enrollment runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Enroll by December 15, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027, or by January 15 for coverage starting February 1.
Is Cigna leaving Colorado’s individual market?
Yes. Cigna individual coverage ends December 31, 2026. Affected customers have a Special Enrollment Period through March 1, 2027, but choosing a new plan by December 15 avoids a gap. Colorado Access is the new carrier for 2027.
What is Colorado Premium Assistance?
It is state financial help applied automatically for eligible customers who enroll through Connect for Health Colorado. A 2026 law, SB26-178, keeps it funded for 2027, and the exchange says it helped more than 176,000 people in 2026.
Did Colorado expand Medicaid?
Yes. Colorado expanded Medicaid, called Health First Colorado, to adults up to 138% of the poverty level in 2014. Children and pregnant people with income under 260% of the poverty level may qualify for CHP+.
Keep learning: see every way to cut costs in our affordable health insurance Colorado hub, read the city guides for Denver and Colorado Springs, check 2027 Open Enrollment, or review Special Enrollment Periods.
