Colorado Health Insurance for Self-Employed People and Families
Looking for health insurance in Colorado? We help self-employed people, 1099 workers, families and small business owners compare Colorado Marketplace, Colorado Option and private health insurance options.
Colorado has its own health insurance Marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, along with state-specific financial assistance and Colorado Option plans. That gives residents more choices, but it can also make comparing coverage more complicated.
1099 Health Insurance is licensed to help clients in Colorado. Most consultations are handled conveniently by phone and screen-share, allowing us to review plans together wherever you live in the state.
Colorado Health Insurance at a Glance for 2027
| Colorado Health Insurance Marketplace | Connect for Health Colorado |
|---|---|
| 2027 Open Enrollment | November 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027 |
| January 1 coverage deadline | Enroll by December 15, 2026 |
| 2027 Marketplace insurers | Anthem, Kaiser Permanente, Denver Health Medical Plan, SelectHealth, Rocky Mountain HMO and Colorado Access. Availability varies by county and rating area. |
| New for 2027 | Colorado Access is entering the individual market and expects to offer Colorado Access Choice plans in 14 counties. |
| Leaving the individual market | Cigna individual and family medical coverage ends December 31, 2026. |
| 2027 individual-market rates | Final rates average about a 10% increase statewide, with significant differences by region. |
| Colorado Premium Assistance | State-funded premium assistance continues in 2027 for eligible Connect for Health Colorado customers. |
| Colorado Option | Standardized individual health plans designed to make benefits and costs easier to compare. |
| Medicaid | Colorado expanded Medicaid through Health First Colorado. |
| Private health insurance | Coverage outside Connect for Health Colorado may also be available, but Marketplace financial assistance can only be obtained through Connect for Health Colorado. |
What's Changing for Colorado Health Insurance in 2027?
Cigna is leaving the individual health insurance market
Cigna will no longer offer Individual and Family medical plans beginning in 2027.
This affects Cigna individual medical customers whether they purchased coverage through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado Connect or directly from Cigna.
Existing Cigna medical coverage remains in effect through December 31, 2026.
Affected customers qualify for a Special Enrollment Period through March 1, 2027. However, selecting replacement coverage during Open Enrollment is generally the simplest way to have new coverage begin January 1 without a gap.
Colorado Access is joining the individual market
Colorado Access is entering Colorado's individual health insurance market for 2027 through Access Connected Care Partners.
Its Colorado Access Choice plans are expected to be available in 14 counties in selected Colorado rating areas.
As with every insurer, availability depends on your ZIP code, so we check the plans actually available where you live.
Final Colorado health insurance rates increased for 2027
Colorado's final 2027 individual-market premiums are expected to increase by an average of about 10% statewide.
The change varies significantly depending on where you live. Final average regional increases range from about 5.9% to 15.5%.
| Colorado Rating Area | Average 2027 Individual-Market Increase |
|---|---|
| Boulder | 12.0% |
| Colorado Springs | 9.7% |
| Denver | 10.8% |
| Fort Collins | 9.5% |
| Grand Junction | 15.5% |
| Greeley | 10.0% |
| Pueblo | 10.4% |
| Eastern Plains, Arkansas Valley and San Luis Valley | 5.9% |
| Western Colorado outside Grand Junction | 11.8% |
These are averages. Your actual premium depends on your age, location, insurance company, plan, household and eligibility for financial assistance.
Eligible customers will be automatically renewed earlier
Connect for Health Colorado says eligible returning customers will be automatically re-enrolled at the start of Open Enrollment for Plan Year 2027.
That does not mean you should simply accept your renewal. Premiums, financial assistance, provider networks, prescriptions and benefits can change from one year to the next.
Review the renewal and compare your other options before Open Enrollment ends.
Financial Help With Colorado Health Insurance
Federal Premium Tax Credits
Eligible Colorado residents can receive federal Premium Tax Credits when they enroll through Connect for Health Colorado.
The enhanced federal Premium Tax Credits that were temporarily available through 2025 expired. Under current rules, federal premium assistance generally applies to otherwise eligible households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.
Colorado Premium Assistance
Colorado also provides its own state-funded financial help, called Colorado Premium Assistance.
This assistance can further reduce the monthly premium for eligible households enrolled through Connect for Health Colorado. The program has been continued for Plan Year 2027.
The amount available depends on current program rules, household information and the premium remaining after other financial assistance is applied.
If you qualify, Colorado Premium Assistance is automatically applied when you enroll through Connect for Health Colorado. You do not enroll in the assistance separately.
Why Connect for Health Colorado matters
You can purchase some individual health coverage outside the Marketplace, but Connect for Health Colorado is the place to receive federal and Colorado Marketplace financial assistance.
If you expect to qualify for a subsidy, compare your options through the state Marketplace before buying coverage elsewhere.
Income matters when you're self-employed
Financial assistance is based on expected annual household income. That can be more complicated when your income changes from month to month or you own a business.
If your income is close to an eligibility threshold, consider working with a qualified tax professional when estimating income and evaluating how retirement or HSA contributions may affect your tax situation.
What Are Colorado Option Health Plans?
Colorado Option plans are standardized individual health plans available through participating insurance companies.
The standardized design makes it easier to compare benefits between insurance companies because similar Colorado Option plans use a common benefit structure.
These plans may include lower or $0 cost-sharing for certain services, depending on the specific plan.
A Colorado Option plan is not automatically the best choice for everyone. Provider networks, prescriptions, premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs still vary.
We compare Colorado Option plans with other available plans rather than assuming one type is automatically better.
Health Insurance for Self-Employed Coloradans
If you work for yourself, you usually don't have an employer choosing your health insurance or paying part of your premium.
We help you compare more than the monthly price, including:
- Monthly premiums
- Federal and Colorado financial assistance
- Deductibles and out-of-pocket limits
- Doctor and hospital networks
- Prescription coverage
- Colorado Option plans
- Marketplace versus private health insurance options
We regularly help:
Colorado Health Insurance Options
Connect for Health Colorado Marketplace Plans
Colorado operates its own state health insurance Marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado.
Marketplace plans cover pre-existing conditions and include the consumer protections and essential health benefits required under federal law.
This is also where eligible consumers can receive federal Premium Tax Credits and Colorado Premium Assistance.
Private Health Insurance
Some Colorado residents may also have private health coverage options outside Connect for Health Colorado.
Coverage outside the Marketplace may differ in benefits, provider networks, eligibility requirements and other plan terms depending on the product.
Federal Premium Tax Credits and Colorado Premium Assistance are not available when coverage is purchased outside Connect for Health Colorado.
We can help you compare the differences before you decide which direction makes sense.
Colorado Option Plans
Colorado Option plans use standardized benefits designed by the state and are offered by participating insurers.
Compare premium, network, prescriptions and out-of-pocket costs just as you would with any other plan.
Health First Colorado and CHP+
Health First Colorado is Colorado's Medicaid program. CHP+ provides coverage to eligible children and pregnant people who do not qualify for Medicaid but meet program requirements.
Applications for these programs are available year-round.
Short-Term Health Insurance
Short-term medical insurance is not currently marketed by insurers in Colorado.
Colorado adopted strict requirements for short-term health insurance, and insurers stopped offering these policies in the state.
If you need temporary coverage, we can review what other options may be available based on your situation.
Health Sharing Programs
Health sharing memberships may be available in Colorado, but they are not health insurance.
Payment of medical expenses is not guaranteed in the same way covered benefits are guaranteed under an insurance policy.
Small Business Health Insurance
Colorado employers may have access to traditional group health insurance and other employer health benefit arrangements.
Dental, Vision and Supplemental Coverage
Dental, vision, accident, critical illness and other supplemental coverage may be available alongside medical coverage.
Check Your Colorado Doctors and Hospitals Before Enrolling
Health insurance networks can vary significantly between Colorado insurance companies and plans.
Kaiser Permanente generally uses its own integrated network, while other insurers contract with different doctors, medical groups and hospital systems.
Depending on where you live and the specific plan, systems you may want to check include:
- UCHealth
- Intermountain Health
- HealthONE
- Denver Health
- CommonSpirit Health
- Children's Hospital Colorado
Don't assume a hospital or doctor participates simply because they accept another plan from the same insurance company.
During a phone or screen-share consultation, we can help check your providers and prescriptions while reviewing the plans you're considering.
Serving All 64 Colorado Counties
We help Colorado clients by phone and screen-share, so you can compare coverage without traveling to an insurance office.
We work with clients in Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Boulder, Pueblo, Greeley, Longmont, Grand Junction and communities throughout Colorado.
Where you live matters. Colorado uses regional health insurance pricing, and plan choices and premiums can vary significantly between the Front Range, Western Slope and mountain or rural communities.
Convenient Colorado Health Insurance Consultations
Most consultations are completed by phone. When it is useful to review plan details together, we can use screen-sharing so you can see plans, benefits and costs while we discuss your options.
How It Works
Schedule a Call
Pick a convenient time for a phone consultation. If helpful, we can use screen-sharing to review plan information together.
Compare Your Options
We compare plans, premiums, Colorado Option choices, financial assistance, networks and prescriptions and discuss Marketplace versus private coverage when appropriate.
Choose and Apply
If you find an option that works for you, we help with enrollment and remain available for questions after your coverage begins.
Colorado Health Insurance FAQ
When is Colorado health insurance Open Enrollment for 2027?
Connect for Health Colorado Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from November 1, 2026 through January 15, 2027.
Enroll by December 15 for coverage beginning January 1. Enroll between December 16 and January 15 and coverage generally begins February 1.
Can I use HealthCare.gov to enroll in Colorado?
No. Colorado operates its own state Marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado.
Connect for Health Colorado is also where eligible residents receive federal Marketplace financial assistance and Colorado Premium Assistance.
What happens if I currently have Cigna health insurance?
Cigna will no longer offer Individual and Family medical coverage beginning in 2027. Existing 2026 medical coverage remains in effect through December 31, 2026.
Affected members have a Special Enrollment Period through March 1, 2027, but selecting replacement coverage during Open Enrollment is generally the easiest way to begin replacement coverage January 1.
Which insurance companies offer Colorado Marketplace plans in 2027?
The 2027 individual market includes Anthem, Kaiser Permanente, Denver Health Medical Plan, SelectHealth, Rocky Mountain HMO and Colorado Access. Availability varies by county and rating area.
What is the Colorado Option?
Colorado Option plans are standardized health plans offered by participating insurance companies.
They use a standardized benefit design, which can make comparing certain costs and benefits easier. Provider networks, premiums and prescription coverage can still vary by insurer and plan.
What is Colorado Premium Assistance?
Colorado Premium Assistance is state-funded help that can reduce monthly health insurance premiums for eligible Connect for Health Colorado customers.
The program continues for Plan Year 2027. If you qualify, the assistance is applied automatically when you enroll through Connect for Health Colorado.
How much are Colorado health insurance rates increasing in 2027?
Final individual-market rates increased by an average of about 10% statewide for 2027.
Regional averages vary from approximately 5.9% to 15.5%. Your actual premium depends on your age, location, plan and eligibility for financial assistance.
Can self-employed people in Colorado get financial help?
Yes, if they meet the eligibility requirements. Self-employed individuals can qualify for federal Premium Tax Credits and potentially Colorado Premium Assistance when enrolling through Connect for Health Colorado.
Financial assistance is based in part on expected annual household income.
Can I choose private health insurance outside the Marketplace?
Some private health coverage may be available outside Connect for Health Colorado, depending on the type of plan and your situation.
However, federal Marketplace Premium Tax Credits and Colorado Premium Assistance cannot be used for coverage purchased outside Connect for Health Colorado.
Can I buy short-term health insurance in Colorado?
No insurers currently market short-term health insurance policies in Colorado. The state has strict requirements for short-term medical coverage, and insurers stopped offering these policies after the rules took effect.
Did Colorado expand Medicaid?
Yes. Health First Colorado is Colorado's Medicaid program and provides coverage to eligible residents based on income and other program requirements.
Is pregnancy a qualifying event in Colorado?
Colorado provides a Special Enrollment Period for certain uninsured people when pregnancy is confirmed, allowing eligible residents to enroll outside the normal Open Enrollment period.
Can you help check whether my doctor is in network?
Yes. Have the names of your doctors, specialists, preferred hospitals and prescriptions ready during your consultation. We can help check them while reviewing the plans you're considering.
How do consultations work?
Most consultations are completed by phone. When it helps to review plan details together, we can use screen-sharing so you can see the coverage information while we discuss it.
Get Help Comparing Colorado Health Insurance
With Cigna leaving, Colorado Access entering the market, Colorado Option plans, state premium assistance and significant regional price differences, comparing your 2027 options is especially important.
We can help you compare Marketplace and private health insurance options by phone or screen-share.
Colorado Health Insurance Sources
- Connect for Health Colorado — 2027 Open Enrollment dates and Marketplace information
- Colorado Division of Insurance — final 2027 individual-market premium information
- Connect for Health Colorado — Colorado Premium Assistance
- Colorado Division of Insurance — Colorado Access entry into the 2027 individual market
- Cigna Healthcare — 2027 Individual and Family medical-plan exit
- Health First Colorado — Medicaid eligibility and enrollment information
- Colorado Division of Insurance — short-term health insurance regulations
