Your Guide to Health Insurance in Colorado
Before we jump right into health insurance in Colorado and everything you need to know, let’s start with a little background information. In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a “Obamacare” or ACA) was passed with the goal of getting all Americans access to affordable health insurance. To meet this goal, one measure Obamacare took was to create the ACA health insurance marketplaces, or health exchanges: one-stop shops where Americans can choose from a range of standardized, government-regulated health care plans. Health exchanges are also where eligible people can get subsidies, which lower the cost of their health plans.
States were given the option to run their own local exchange, take part in a multi-state exchange, or use the federal exchange. States that run their own exchanges get to customize many elements, including the time frame during which their residents can sign up for a plan. Several states decided to operate their own state exchanges and continue to do so to this day. Colorado is one of those states.
To start comparing health plans in Colorado, enter your zip code below.
Colorado’s Health Insurance Landscape
The health insurance exchange in Colorado is called Connect for Health Colorado. Before the ACA, 14% of Coloradans were uninsured. Since the introduction of Connect for Health Colorado, the percent of Coloradans without health insurance has dropped to 6.5.
During the Special Enrollment Period in 2021 that ran from February 8 through August 15, around 216,350 Colorado residents signed up for coverage.
The Health Insurance Exchange in Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is where eligible people throughout the state can find subsidized ACA plans. Open Enrollment for 2022 in Colorado begins November 1. 2021 and ends January 15, 2022. If you sign up by December 15, your coverage will start January 1.
Like all other state exchanges, each plan on Connect for Health Colorado covers 10 essential health benefits. These include things like prescription coverage, maternity and mental health care, and laboratory services.
Buying insurance with Connect for Health Colorado involves four steps:
1. Create an account on Connect for Health Colorado
2. Complete the online application form
3. Compare your options
4. Select your plan and enroll
In true health insurance fashion, each of these steps can be trickier than you expect. Many people need help navigating the website, estimating their income, figuring out if they are eligible for subsidies, and understanding what documents are needed for proof of income, citizenship, or identity. Working with Stride makes this process much faster and easier, while still allowing you to enroll through Connect for Health Colorado with the same plan at the same price.
Connect for Health Colorado’s Intricacies: What You Need to Know for 2022
All insurers that offered plans on Connect for Health Colorado for 2021 will continue to do so for 2022. This means all 8 carriers are returning to the exchange. These 8 carriers include:
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Bright Health
Cigna
Denver Health Medical Plan
Friday Health Plans of Colorado
Kaiser Permanente
Oscar Health
Rocky Mountain HMO
Several insurers are offering plans in more zip codes this year, and residents of nearly all counties will have more than one company to choose from.
Insurers have proposed an average price increase of 1.4% for their plans in 2022. However, these increases are lessened by Colorado’s reinsurance program, which has helped keep costs low since 2020.
If you live in Colorado, Open Enrollment (the time of year when you can enroll in a new health plan)has begun. Be sure to find your most affordable plan, and you’ll be well on your way for smarter, better savings all year long. And don’t forget—if you need help finding a subsidy or picking a plan, our experts are here to help! Get started by entering your zip code below.