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In Colorado, there are a variety of affordable health insurance choices whether you’re seeking coverage as an individual or for your family. You can enroll in your employer’s plan or sign up for Medicare or Medicaid (if you qualify). There are government-funded health plans for children, direct plans from insurance companies, or you could use the Health Insurance Marketplace for Affordable Care Act options.

This guide explains what you need to know about getting health insurance in Colorado.

What to know about insurance in Colorado

  • Marketplace plans: In Colorado, you can buy a private plan if you’re self-employed, if your employer doesn’t offer group coverage, if your employer’s plan doesn’t meet your needs, or if the plan doesn’t cover your spouse or dependents. You can purchase plans through insurance companies, agents, and brokers. However, you won’t qualify for premium tax credits or other savings based on your income when you purchase insurance off the exchange.
  • Open enrollment: For Colorado affordable insurance coverage starting in 2023, open enrollment runs from October 15, 2022 to December 7, 2022.
  • Special enrollment: You have a 60-day special enrollment window to buy or change plans if you experience certain life-changing events, such as getting married/divorced, having/adopting a baby, loss of insurance, or moving, among others.
  • Expanded availability: Changes to Colorado health insurance for 2021 included an extended enrollment period due to COVID-19, significant reductions in premiums with more financial help available to individuals with higher incomes, and $0 or low-cost health insurance premium options for anyone receiving unemployment benefits for at least one week in 2021.
  • Connect for Health Colorado: Almost all Coloradoans can get health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado if they’re a state resident, legally residing in the United States, and not incarcerated. These plans can be purchased online at ConnectforHealthCO.com. You can also enroll over the phone by calling 855-752-6749, in-person at an enrollment center or through an insurance broker.
  • Coverage types: A little over half of Colorado residents receive their health insurance through an employer, nearly 17% receive Medicaid, and almost 13% are covered under Medicare. Another 7% of residents have non-group health insurance coverage and about 2% receive military health care benefits. Almost 8% of Coloradans are uninsured.

How do I enroll in Colorado's health insurance marketplace?

Colorado is one of a handful of states that has its own health insurance marketplace, so you’ll enroll on the state’s website instead of HealthCare.gov. New enrollees can get started by creating an account on the Connect for Health Colorado website. You’ll fill in your name, email address, and phone number, then choose a password and preferred language (either English or Spanish). Once you confirm your account through an automated email message, you can continue working on your profile and fill out an application for insurance coverage.

You need several pieces of information to complete your enrollment application, which are used to determine if you require an individual or family plan as well as to calculate whether you qualify for financial help with your premiums. These include:

  • The names and birthdates for everyone in your household
  • Your mailing address and the mailing address of anyone in your household who has a different home address
  • Social Security numbers for everyone applying for coverage on your plan
  • Immigration documents for any household members who are noncitizens and applying for coverage
  • Information about your tax filing status and who you claim as dependents
  • Employer and income information for every household member

Once your account is set up, you can shop online and compare available plans from multiple health insurance companies. You can also apply for financial assistance to lower your health insurance costs and request help from certified enrollment experts.

  • Anthem (HMO Colorado, Inc.)
  • Bright Health Insurance Company
  • Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company
  • Denver Health Medical Plan, Inc.
  • Friday Health Plans
  • Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado
  • Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization, Inc.

 

How do I enroll in Colorado individual and family insurance?

Health insurance enrollment in Colorado works the same for both individuals and families. What the state calls individual health insurance plans are used for both individuals and families looking for coverage, but enrolling a family can be more time consuming, depending on the complexities of your household.

There are some important considerations when shopping for individual coverage, whether for yourself or multiple people. These considerations include:

  • Medical needs
  • Preferred plan type
  • Premium affordability
  • Individual vs. family deductibles

Whether your plan is for an individual or a family, Connect for Health Colorado only sells health maintenance organization (HMO) and exclusive provider organization (EPO) plans, which are very similar.

Insurance for individuals in Colorado

Signing up for an individual insurance plan as a single person is relatively uncomplicated. Ask yourself what types of medical services you need, prescription drugs you take, and doctors and other health care providers you already see that you want to continue seeing. Compare all your plan options, including each plan’s preferred drug list, provider network, and total costs to see which works best for your health care needs and budget.

Before comparing your plan options, see if you qualify for financial help or health care discounts. Many Coloradans don’t pay full price for the health plans sold through Connect for Health Colorado. You may qualify for advanced premium tax credits that lower your monthly premium and/or cost-sharing reductions that lower out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. You can use Colorado’s quick cost and plan finder tool to compare plans based on total costs and savings, then complete your financial assistance application.

Every Connect for Health Colorado plan must cover essential health benefits, such as hospitalizations, outpatient care, emergency services, prescriptions, pregnancy, and services for children, among others. Individual plans often include more services than a single person needs, but be sure you choose one with everything that matters to you by looking at the Summary of Benefits and Coverage.

Insurance for families in Colorado

Because family plans are identical to individual plans (except that the plans cover multiple people instead of a single person), families have access to the same insurance providers as single adults do. Some important inclusions for families in all Connect for Health Colorado plans are free preventive services, including certain services specifically for women and children. These services are covered without a copayment or coinsurance, even if your family hasn’t met your annual deductible.

Compare your plan options carefully to find one that meets the needs of everyone in your household. Depending on the number of people involved, this could become complicated, and family members may be covered under different plans within the same policy. Don’t forget to consider any special needs, doctor preferences, and prescription requirements of all family members before signing up for a plan.

Another consideration for family plans is that many plans have an individual deductible and a family deductible. An individual deductible applies to each person covered by the plan, while the family deductible applies to the entire family. If one of your family members is hospitalized or undergoes an expensive surgery, it’s possible to meet the family deductible before every person on the plan has met their individual deductible.

How much does health insurance cost in Colorado?

Health insurance plans in Colorado are organized into three coverage levels called health insurance metal tiers. These tiers help you decide which plan level is a good fit for you or your family based on how often you expect to need health care services.

The average lowest costs of insurance premiums have decreased for all three levels since 2018. This is good news for Colorado residents who don’t qualify for financial help with their premiums, since this downward trend saves them money on their monthly premiums.

Average premium in Colorado 2020 2021 2022 2023
Most affordable Bronze plan $380 $358 $343 $291
Most affordable Silver plan $506 $470 $445 $376
Most affordable Gold plan $510 $464 $435 $363

  • Bronze plans have the lowest premiums but the highest costs when you need medical care, making these more appropriate if you’re healthy and rarely go to the doctor. You pay 40% of the cost of services, and the plan pays 60%.  In 2023, the most affordable Bronze plan costs $291 per month.
  • Silver plans have moderate premiums and moderate costs when you need health care services and are a good fit if you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, since you must purchase a Silver-level plan to receive these health care discounts. You’ll pay 30% and your plan pays 70% of the cost of services. In 2023, the most affordable Silver plan costs $376 per month.
  • Gold and Platinum plans have the highest monthly premiums but pay more of your medical costs, making them ideal if you or your family members have medical conditions that require frequent care. You pay 10% to 20% of the cost of services, and your plan pays 80% to 90%. In 2023, the most affordable Gold plan costs $363 per month.

Can you get cheap health insurance in Colorado?

Colorado’s Medicaid program helps residents who can’t afford to purchase individual health insurance plans in Colorado, aren’t covered through their employer, or don’t qualify for Medicare. Colorado offers Medicaid to qualifying pregnant women and eligible adults. It also offers the Child Health Plan Plus for children whose families don’t qualify for Medicaid.

Medicaid in Colorado

Colorado’s state-sponsored Medicaid program is called Health First Colorado, which offers free or low-cost health care for children and adults who qualify. Some benefits and services included in Health First Colorado are doctor visits, emergency room and urgent care, hospital stays, well-child visits, maternity care, prescription drugs, and dental services, among others.

To qualify, you must be:

  • A Colorado resident
  • A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien
  • Pregnant
  • Aged 65 or older
  • Responsible for a child aged 18 or younger
  • Blind
  • Disabled

Eligibility hinges on your monthly income. You can apply for Medicaid by submitting an application through Connect for Health Colorado or Colorado’s Program Eligibility and Application Kit (PEAK) eligibility system.

Child Health Plan Plus in Colorado

Colorado’s Child Health Plan Plus offers low-cost health insurance for certain children and pregnant women. If you earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado, you or your child may still qualify for CHP+ because this program has different rules. CHP+ covers doctor visits, preventive care such as immunizations, emergency care, and other services.

Children aged 18 or younger and pregnant women aged 19 and older who don’t qualify for Medicaid, don’t have any other insurance, and have a household income under 260% of the Federal Poverty Level may qualify for CHP+. The cost for CHP+ depends on your household size and income. You may have to pay an annual enrollment fee and copays at the time of service. However, pregnant women, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives don’t pay premiums or copays.

What are Colorado’s Medicare options for seniors and people with disabilities?

Elderly Colorado residents and younger individuals with certain disabilities can receive health care coverage through Medicare, the federal government-administered insurance program.

  • Original Medicare consists of Part A, which provides inpatient services in hospitals and nursing facilities, in-home nursing services and hospice care, and Part B, which covers outpatient care, doctors’ visits, preventive care, medical equipment, and other related services. The Medicare Part A deductible for inpatient hospital stays is $1,600 in 2023. Medicare Part B enrollees pay a standard monthly premium of $226 for 2023.
  • Medicare Advantage Plans are sold through individual insurance companies. These plans cover all the benefits offered by Original Medicare, and may include extras, such as prescription drug coverage, vision, dental, and other services. As of 2023, there are 147 Medicare Advantage Plans available in the state, however, you can only select a plan that’s available in your county.

You can also purchase a Medigap plan, which is Medicare Supplement insurance to help you cover your Original Medicare deductibles, copays, and coinsurance costs.

Eligibility

To qualify for Medicare, you must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and aged 65 or older, or younger than 65 and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance for at least 24 months. You may also qualify if you have end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Enrollment

If you start receiving your Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits at least four months before you turn 65, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare. Otherwise, you must fill out an application online or contact your local Social Security office. You can enroll in Medicare during the following periods:

  • Initial enrollment: Your initial enrollment period starts three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after your 65th birthday. If you’ve never had Medicare, you can enroll during this period. If you started receiving Medicare when you were younger, you can also make changes to your plan.
  • General enrollment: Choose this enrollment period if you missed your initial enrollment period. The Medicare general enrollment period is January 1 to March 31. You can choose Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Part D.
  • Medicare Advantage open enrollment: You can make changes to your Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, from January 1 to March 31.
  • Open enrollment: You can join, switch plans, or drop your coverage from October 15 to December 7 each year.
  • Special enrollment periods: You may qualify for a special enrollment period if you lose your coverage or have changes to your eligibility outside the regular enrollment periods.

Medicare Resources

If you need help signing up for Medicare, visit your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) office or call 888-696-7213 for free Medicare counseling and assistance choosing plans and filling out forms.

Are there short-term health insurance plan options in Colorado?

Due to Colorado’s strict laws regarding short-term health insurance plans, no insurance companies offer short-term plans in the state.

Colorado Insurance FAQs

Does Colorado require health insurance?

No, Colorado doesn’t require health insurance since the federal mandate for individuals to have a qualified health plan or pay a penalty ended in 2019.

Do I have to use the Health Insurance Marketplace in Colorado?

No, you can also purchase health insurance from an insurance company, agent, or broker who provides policies in the area in which you live. However, you can only qualify for a premium subsidy through the marketplace.

What types of alternative health insurance plans (like cost sharing plans) are available in Colorado?

Colorado has several health care sharing plans available. Members share medical expenses rather than paying monthly premiums to an insurance company. Health care sharing plans are less expensive than traditional health insurance, but aren’t required to cover pre-existing conditions, so these plans are usually best if you’re in good health.

Do I need health insurance if I have an HSA/FSA?

While a health savings account can help you manage health care costs, it doesn’t replace insurance coverage. You’ll need health insurance to cover major health expenses. An HSA or FSA is good for covering out-of-pocket health costs.

Do I need short-term disability coverage in Colorado if I have health insurance?

If your employer doesn’t provide short-term disability insurance for you, then yes, you should consider getting short-term disability coverage on top of your health insurance plan. Short-term disability coverage pays for daily living expenses when you can’t work due to a non-job-related injury or illness. Some states have laws requiring employers to provide short-term disability insurance, but Colorado isn’t one of them, so you must purchase your own policy from an insurance plan provider.

Do I need long-term disability coverage in Colorado if I have health insurance?

Colorado doesn’t require you to have long-term disability coverage, but it’s an excellent supplement to your health insurance. LTD insurance may be purchased through individual insurance companies or provided by employers for the benefit of qualified employees. LTD benefits typically kick in when your short-term disability benefits run out, making LTD insurance ideal for long-term injuries and illnesses.

What does Child Health Plan Plus cover?

CHP+ covers an array of health care services, including primary care, hospital services, emergency care, urgent care, prescriptions, maternity care, dental care for children and pregnant women, and mental or behavioral health care.

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Tammy Burns
Insurance and health care consultant

Tammy Burns is an experienced health insurance advisor. She earned her nursing degree in 1990 from Jacksonville State University, obtained her insurance billing and coding certification in 1995, and holds a health and life insurance license in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Burns is Affordable Care Act (ACA)-certified for health insurance and other ancillary, life, and annuity products. She maintains an active nursing license and practices private-duty nursing.

Burns’ background as a nurse, insurance biller and coder, and insurance consultant includes infectious disease, oncology, gynecology, phlebotomy, post operative, family medicine, geriatrics, home health, hospice, human resources, management, billing, coding, claims, fixed annuities, group and individual health and life products, and Medicare. She’s always been driven by a desire to help people, spending more than 25 years as a practicing nurse in hospitals, private doctors’ offices, home health, and hospice. As a nurse, Burns supported patients filing insurance claims with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies as well as responding to billing questions from confused patients.

Seeing firsthand how unsuspecting patients are frequently confused by an overly complex system they don’t understand led Burns to become an insurance agent and health care consultant, now helping people understand the medical system. Since becoming an insurance agent in 2013, she has worked with some of the largest and most reputable insurance carriers and agencies in the nation, and she has built a large and loyal clientele by way of her commitment to transparency and personalized service.

author-img
Tammy Burns
Insurance and health care consultant

Tammy Burns is an experienced health insurance advisor. She earned her nursing degree in 1990 from Jacksonville State University, obtained her insurance billing and coding certification in 1995, and holds a health and life insurance license in Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Burns is Affordable Care Act (ACA)-certified for health insurance and other ancillary, life, and annuity products. She maintains an active nursing license and practices private-duty nursing.

Burns’ background as a nurse, insurance biller and coder, and insurance consultant includes infectious disease, oncology, gynecology, phlebotomy, post operative, family medicine, geriatrics, home health, hospice, human resources, management, billing, coding, claims, fixed annuities, group and individual health and life products, and Medicare. She’s always been driven by a desire to help people, spending more than 25 years as a practicing nurse in hospitals, private doctors’ offices, home health, and hospice. As a nurse, Burns supported patients filing insurance claims with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies as well as responding to billing questions from confused patients.

Seeing firsthand how unsuspecting patients are frequently confused by an overly complex system they don’t understand led Burns to become an insurance agent and health care consultant, now helping people understand the medical system. Since becoming an insurance agent in 2013, she has worked with some of the largest and most reputable insurance carriers and agencies in the nation, and she has built a large and loyal clientele by way of her commitment to transparency and personalized service.

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