Colorado Health Insurance Shoppers Get an Early Look at 2027 Plans and Prices
Connect for Health Colorado’s Estimate & Explore tool is now available with new plan year information; customers can begin enrolling on Nov. 1.
COLORADO – Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace is giving customers an early look at 2027 health insurance plans, offering more time for people to compare coverage and costs before the annual open enrollment period begins.
Connect for Health Colorado’s Estimate & Explore tool offers personalized recommendations and side-by-side plan comparisons to help customers understand their coverage options. Customers can preview and compare 2027 plans now so they are prepared when open enrollment begins on Nov. 1.
Estimate & Explore is now available, giving Coloradans more time to review their health coverage options before Open Enrollment begins.
Dear Friends and Partners,
Every year, Open Enrollment gives Coloradans an opportunity to evaluate their health coverage and make decisions about the year ahead. For some people, that process is straightforward. For others, it can feel overwhelming.
Health coverage decisions often involve balancing premiums, deductibles, provider networks, prescription drug coverage, and other factors that affect both a household budget and access to care. Those decisions become even more important when costs are rising and families are taking a closer look at their finances.
Last September, just ahead of the 2026 ACA Open Enrollment Period, the Colorado legislature passed emergency legislation to generate funding to backfill around 40% of the premium subsidies which were lost when Congressional Republicans refused to extend the enhanced federal tax credits:
DENVER - Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway released the following statement on Governor Polis signing HB 25B-1006 into law, legislation that provides funding to the individual healthcare market to reduce catastrophic premium increases:
“I’m grateful Colorado lawmakers heeded our call about catastrophic price increases for the individual healthcare market and passed a temporary fix this special session. This stopgap measure will provide crucial funding to reduce the rise in premium costs for working families. But without Congress stepping up to extend enhanced premium tax credits, tens of thousands of hardworking Coloradans will lose their healthcare, and those who remain enrolled can expect to see average net rate increases of more than 100%, and for many, almost 200%.”
Connect for Health Colorado, the state's ACA exchange, has published effectuated enrollment data for January, February and March 2026, so it's time to dig in and see what this might say about national trends.
Unfortunately, it doesn't provide much demographic data (metal levels, income levels, etc), but it does at least provide the number of effectuated enrollees as well as new and terminated enrollments.
Below is what it looks like compared to the same months in prior years. I'm disregarding the COVID years (2020 - 2023) but am including 2016 - 2019 (none of which included the enhanced federal tax credits) as well as 2024 & 2025.
Officially, Qualified Health Plan (QHP) selections during Open Enrollment were only 1.9% lower than they were in 2025. However, as I expected and have warned about repeatedly, the year over year drop in effectuated enrollment was double that in January (3.8%), and the gap grew in both February and March. For the first quarter of 2026, effectuated enrollment in Colorado is down 5.3% vs Q1 2025.
Denver, Colo. – After five consecutive years of record growth, enrollment in health coverage through the state’s official health insurance marketplace for plan year 2026 dipped 2%, Connect for Health Colorado announced today.
Despite rising costs due to less federal financial assistance, 277,228 Coloradans enrolled in health insurance, with 69% of customers receiving financial help to lower the cost of their monthly premiums.
Technically, QHP selections ended up down 1.9% from last year's total of 282,481.
Denver, Colo.– Enrollment for health coverage beginning Jan. 1 is consistent with this time last year, Connect for Health Colorado announced today. 256,422 residents have enrolled in a health insurance plan through the state’s official health insurance marketplace. That is approximately 0.14% higher than the number of people who enrolled for Jan. 1 coverage last year.
Connect for Health Colorado is the only place where Coloradans can get financial help to purchase health insurance, and an estimated 65% of customers will qualify for financial help for plan year 2026. More than half – 58% – of customers who currently receive financial assistance will have at least one 2026 plan option with an estimated net premium under $10 per month.
Denver, Colo. – The Dec. 15 deadline to enroll in health insurance for Jan. 1 is fast approaching, and Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, is encouraging people to shop and start their applications today to avoid a lapse in coverage.
“Dec. 15 is an important deadline; it’s the final day for Coloradans to enroll in health coverage that starts Jan. 1, and our team is ready to help customers stay covered,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado. “Staying covered is one of the most important things people can do for their physical and financial well-being. Gaps in coverage can leave Coloradans vulnerable to unexpected medical costs – but we’re here to help. We want to be sure people have the information and assistance they need to choose a plan that works for them.”
On Get Covered Colorado Day, Connect for Health Colorado and state leaders urge customers to compare options and maintain health coverage in 2026.
Denver, Colo.– Today is Get Covered Colorado Day, a day of action designed to encourage as many Coloradans as possible to enroll in 2026 health insurance during Connect for Health Colorado's annual open enrollment period.
“Our message today is simple: we’re here to help every Coloradan get covered,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. “Even with premium increases and the possible expiration of federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits, Coloradans are finding plans that fit their needs and their budgets – and they’re not doing it alone. Our experts are ready to guide customers every step of the way. We want Coloradans to know there’s no better time than now to shop, compare options and take advantage of the support we have available.”
Denver, Colo.– Health insurance premiums will increase for many people who buy health insurance through Colorado’s official marketplace and fewer customers in 2026 will qualify for financial help to offset those costs, according to a new analysis from Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Most of the cost increase is the result of Congress allowing federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) to expire.
Connect for Health Colorado’s analysis is based on the Colorado Division of Insurance’s announcement of final health insurance premium rates for plan year 2026, and reflects the expiration of ePTCs and the benefit of the introduction of Colorado Premium Assistance, which will reduce premiums for some customers.
June is Pride Month — a time to find joy in community and celebrate the progress we’ve made toward becoming a more inclusive Colorado.
For several years, Connect for Health Colorado has proudly supported Pride Month events across metro and rural areas, connecting with and learning how we can continue to best serve all Coloradans.
We know our vibrant, diverse communities make us stronger.
That’s why we’re committed to providing everyone with the resources and support they need to find health coverage that works best for them, and feel confident and comfortable when they seek care.
Our support of Pride Month events is important, perhaps now more than ever. People in the LGBTQIA+ community face persistent disparities in health coverage and care; are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured; and too often, experience discrimination in medical settings.
That’s why we continue to prioritize outreach to the LGBTQIA+ community and build trust in communities throughout the state — working to ensure that every person feels supported when accessing coverage and care.
