‘Coordinated State Effort’ Helped Keep Coloradans Insured: Connect for Health Colorado Releases its Annual Open Enrollment Report

Denver, Colo. — Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, released its annual Open Enrollment Report today, highlighting a statewide effort to stabilize costs for plan year 2026 despite significant changes to federal financial assistance. 

Connect for Health Colorado estimates the expiration of federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) reduced or eliminated federal financial help for approximately 78,000 Coloradans. In response, the state implemented Colorado Premium Assistance for plan year 2026 to blunt the impact of cuts to federal financial help for households below 400% of the federal poverty level.

Colorado Premium Assistance is providing approximately $10.6 million per month to help offset premium costs for more than 176,000 customers. According to Connect for Health Colorado, the program has helped prevent a steep drop in enrollment, especially for customers between the ages of 26 and 34. Colorado Premium Assistance has kept coverage costs about the same as they were in 2025 for households that receive financial help. 

“There was a coordinated state and local effort focused on getting—and keeping—Coloradans covered in plan year 2026,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado. “I am extremely grateful to the Governor’s Office, the General Assembly, Division of Insurance, Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise, and Connect for Health Colorado’s team, community partners, and trained, certified network of Assisters and health insurance Brokers. Together, through strong partnerships and innovative solutions like Colorado Premium Assistance, we’re leading the way in keeping affordable health coverage within reach for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors.”

For customers receiving remaining federal Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) and Colorado Premium Assistance, the average net premium is $131.21 per month. By comparison, the average monthly premium for customers without financial help is $616.09. 

Even with remaining federal APTCs and Colorado Premium Assistance, Connect for Health Colorado estimates customers are paying approximately $19 million more per month in premiums compared to plan year 2025.

The General Assembly is considering Senate Bill 26-178, which would extend Colorado Premium Assistance at the same levels for another year.

Read the full 2026 Open Enrollment Report on Connect for Health Colorado’s website. 

Enrollment and Plan Selection At-a-Glance
After five consecutive years of record growth, enrollment in health coverage through Connect for Health Colorado dipped. 277,228 Coloradans enrolled in health insurance through the marketplace, with 69% receiving federal APTCs.

As of April, effectuated enrollment is down approximately 4% compared to the same time last year, suggesting that higher costs may be affecting some customers’ ability to maintain coverage. This will continue to change throughout the year.

Plan selection remained largely consistent year over year, with only minor shifts across metal tiers. Among customers receiving financial help, Gold plan selection held steady at 29%, Silver increased to 40%, and Bronze decreased to 31%. 

Among customers who did not receive financial help, Gold plan selection decreased 1%, while Bronze increased by approximately 5% compared to Plan Year 2025. Silver decreased from 6% to 4%, and Catastrophic plan selection decreased from 4% to 2%.

Experts Connect Customers to Financial Help
This year, more than 187,000 customers enrolled with help from a trained, certified enrollment Assister, licensed health insurance Broker, or both. With rising costs, many customers needed expert help to find affordable plans, and 71% of customers who enrolled with the help of an Assister or Broker qualified for financial help. 

Assisters provided both in-person and virtual appointments, with 44% conducted in languages other than English. 

Year-Round Support
While open enrollment for plan year 2026 has ended, people can still buy health insurance or make changes to a current plan year-round if they experience certain life changes. Find a list of qualifying life changes on Connect for Health Colorado’s website. 

Connect for Health Colorado’s network of certified enrollment Assisters and insurance Brokers are available to help year-round, are located throughout Colorado, and can provide free support in multiple languages. 

Those who experience a qualifying life change are encouraged to learn more about their options at ConnectforHealthCO.com or by calling 855-752-6749.

About Connect for Health Colorado
Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Its mission is to increase access, affordability and choice for individuals, families and small employers purchasing health insurance in Colorado. It is the only place where residents can qualify for and receive financial help for their health insurance.

Media Contact:
Michelle Mendoza
Media Consultant
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-210-1461

Request for Proposal: Customer Operations Staff Augmentation

Connect for Health Colorado (C4HCO) is soliciting responses from qualified entities to provide the highest quality staff augmentation services for our customer operations.   Selected Vendors will be pre-approved to augment C4HCO’s existing staff (and/or other service providers) across a spectrum of core competencies. 

The Request for Proposal will provide additional details. We look forward to hearing from you.

Gov. Polis Appoints Three New Members to Connect for Health Colorado’s Board of Directors

Denver, Colo. – Gov. Jared Polis has appointed three new members to Connect for Health Colorado’s board of directors. 

Kristin Harding, chief marketing and communications officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado; former state Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, president of the Bell Policy Center; and Toni Sarge, director of health policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign will begin four-year terms on the board effective immediately. 

“I’m happy to welcome Kristin, Chris, and Toni to our board of directors,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace. “They’ve done incredible work in their respective careers to protect, expand, and promote access to affordable health coverage for every Coloradan—and their collective expertise will be extremely valuable to us as we continue to do the work to improve the health of Colorado’s communities.”

Connect for Health Colorado’s board meets monthly to discuss and vote on a range of issues related to the organization’s policies and operations. The board includes nine voting members and three ex-officio members, who serve in an advisory capacity.  

Harding, deGruy Kennedy, and Sarge will replace outgoing board members Mara Baer, Christy Blakely, and Lorez Meinhold. 

“I am extremely grateful to Mara, Christy and Lorez for their service,” Patterson said. “As members of the board, they have provided valuable perspectives, helping guide Connect for Health Colorado through years of significant transition and record-breaking enrollment. I appreciate their willingness to share their time, talent and expertise.”

About Kristin Harding

Kristin Harding is the chief marketing and communications officer at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She leads the organization’s marketing and communications strategy, including modernization of its marketing engine. She also oversees the hospital’s enterprise-level crisis communications program, shaping strategy and response during high-stakes situations, and strengthening organizational readiness. Previously, as chief marketing officer for Individual Solutions at Transamerica, she led marketing and customer experience capabilities across insurance and annuities business lines, and orchestrated high-performing go-to-market strategies. Harding holds a Bachelor of Arts in marketing management from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

About Chris deGruy Kennedy

Former state Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy is president of the Bell Policy Center, a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to advancing economic mobility for every Coloradan. Prior to joining the Bell in July 2024, he served four terms in the Colorado House of Representatives, representing Lakewood, Edgewater, and parts of Jefferson County, and concluded his tenure as Speaker Pro Tempore. During his time in the legislature, he led efforts to address the high costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and higher education, and to expand access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare. A lifelong Coloradan, deGruy Kennedy holds degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Colorado Denver.

About Toni Sarge

Toni Sarge is director of health policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign, where she works with partners and lawmakers to ensure all children have access to health coverage and high-quality care. She leads multiple statewide coalitions focused on child well-being, including the Cover All Coloradans coalition and the All Kids Covered coalition. Prior to joining The Campaign, she worked in marketing and communications at Boulder Community Health and served as director of public affairs for WestSide Baby in Seattle. Sarge holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, San Diego.

About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Its mission is to increase access, affordability and choice for individuals, families and small employers purchasing health insurance in Colorado. It is the only place where residents can qualify for and receive financial help for their health insurance.

Media Contact:

Michelle Mendoza
Media Consultant
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-210-1461

Connect for Health Colorado Offers Funding Opportunity for Enrollment Assistance

Applications open now through April 20, 2026.

Denver, Colo. – Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s official health insurance marketplace, is accepting applications for enrollment and referral partners across the state—advancing its mission to provide customers with expert assistance to enroll in affordable health insurance.

“Our partners play an essential role in helping hundreds of thousands of Coloradans get and stay covered,” said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado. “They know their communities, and they care about their neighbors. They provide trusted, expert help, and make it easier for everyone to find affordable health insurance plans that meet their needs.”

Partnership Opportunities

  • Enrollment Centers across the state offer health coverage education and enrollment assistance from a local storefront and can receive funds for marketing. These locations will also have the ability to help people on a walk-in basis.
  • Assistance Sites and Certified Application Counselor locations provide staff to support their communities with education, health insurance literacy, and the enrollment process. They do not receive commission from insurance companies. They are certified to assist with enrollment on Connect for Health Colorado’s Marketplace and Colorado Connect, and help with Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program. Funding is available for some of these services.
  • Referral Partners are organizations that can help educate their communities about available health coverage options, applicable financial help programs, and provide referrals for health coverage enrollment.

Who May Apply

Connect for Health Colorado welcomes applications from community-based organizations, medical facilities, associations, ranching and farming organizations, chambers of commerce, unions, state and local human service agencies, certified health insurance Brokers and Broker agencies, and other organizations that meet the criteria for selection. Priorities for funding include helping people understand the individual impacts of federal and state policy changes to health coverage, increasing enrollment through Connect for Health Colorado, and increasing the geographic coverage of assistance.

How to Apply

  • Visit c4hco.smapply.io to read the application instructions; learn more about funded and non-funded opportunities; review criteria for partnership awards; and apply. The deadline to apply is April 20, 2026.
  • Attend a live webinar on March 18, 2026, to learn about the application process.
  • Connect for Health Colorado will determine the award depending on the organization type, staffing, goals, and customer service. Connect for Health Colorado welcomes applications from any potential partner but might not accept all proposals.

Timeline

  • March 9, 2026: Applications open; webinars and question-and-answer sessions are available to interested parties throughout the six-week application period.
  • April 20, 2026: Application deadline.
  • April 21 through May 22, 2026: Connect for Health Colorado will review and reply to applicants.
  • July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029: Contract period.

Contact

Email [email protected] if you have questions about the application or application process.

About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Its mission is to increase access, affordability and choice for individuals, families and small employers purchasing health insurance in Colorado. It is the only place where residents can qualify for and receive financial help for their health insurance.

Media Contact:
Michelle Mendoza
Media Consultant
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-210-1461

Celebrating Black History Month

2025-Annual-Report-BHM

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

Trust is essential to the work we do—particularly when it comes to outreach in communities of color. 

February is Black History Month, and last week on Colorado & Company, I sat down with Dr. Brandi Freeman, president-elect of the National Medical Association and a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Colorado, for a discussion about how Black Americans experience health care. 

We talked with Tory Shulman about the importance of understanding Black history in health care and Black health disparities, as well as ways we meet communities of color where they are. (Watch our segment on YouTube.)

It was an opportunity for me to reflect on the significance of the work we—all of us—do together, guiding our neighbors through processes that can feel overwhelming. 

From our team to our community partners and our network of trained, certified Assisters and health insurance Brokers, we’re letting people know that they’re not in this alone—and we recognize that their trust must be earned. 

Commitment requires action, and that’s why our presence in Black communities and communities of color is important outside of open enrollment. Year-round, we remain steady partners, and ensure people have the help they need to get and stay covered. 

Over the last 14 months, we worked alongside organizations to support two community-led initiatives that prioritize health resources for Black communities. 

We supported the Colorado Black Health Collaborative to publish the fifth edition of the Colorado Black Health Resource Directory, a free, trusted source of reliable information for people seeking treatment from Black medical professionals. And in October, we co-hosted with the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work the Black Health Summit, a free community event focused on advancing conversations around access, affordability, and choice in healthcare.  

We’re also proud to support community partners like the Center for African American Health, which will host its 25th annual Health Expo on March 28, bringing essential health resources directly to the community. Save the date for the expo and learn more at CAAHealth.org. 

These kinds of community-led initiatives keep us engaged year-round, establishing us as a trusted partner in health care. That’s how we support communities—not just during open enrollment or Black History Month, but every day of the year.

Voices of Rural Colorado

Last week, I spoke at Club 20’s Voices of Rural Colorado event, and talked with folks about health coverage, rising premiums, and expired federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits. I shared a few observations from open enrollment with them, namely the rise in costs and dip in enrollment we saw in rural areas and with adults 55 and older. 

For our friends on the Western Slope, those numbers represent real people—their neighbors, forced to make tough choices between their health coverage and groceries, gas, or their mortgage payments. 

Leaders in Club 20 are often the first to hear when issues affect their neighbors; when hospitals are under strain, clinics close, or folks can’t figure out how to navigate their health care options. That’s why our partnership with Club 20 is so important. Our work is deeply connected, and I leave those gatherings energized, and with a renewed sense of commitment to protecting affordable access to health care for our rural neighbors. We are increasing our rural outreach to include more county fairs and rodeos around the state to serve these communities in the coming year.

Colorado Connect 2025 Annual Report

In 2025, more than 13,700 people enrolled in health coverage on Colorado Connect, our public benefit corporation. This included approximately 11,400 individuals who were eligible for the Silver Enhanced Savings subsidy, and 2,400 individuals who paid full price for their health insurance premiums. 

Through these enrollments, Colorado Connect continues to supplement our mission—to increase access, affordability, and choice for individuals and small employers purchasing quality health insurance in Colorado.

Read more about Colorado Connect’s 2025 enrollment in our Colorado Connect annual report.

SMART Act Hearing

Last week, I represented Connect for Health Colorado before the legislature for a State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) Government Act hearing. 

I emphasized that we’re in a period of significant transition, particularly following the expiration of enhanced Premium Tax Credits—and I expressed extreme gratitude for the coordinated state action on Colorado Premium Assistance, which helped stabilize and make coverage more affordable for many Coloradans. 

In 2025, we supported more than 300 outreach events and presentations across the state, with a strong focus on underinsured communities. 

I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done together, and the commitment we demonstrate to keeping our neighbors informed and covered. 

Take care, 

Kevin Patterson, MURP, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
Connect for Health Colorado

Health Insurance Enrollment Through Connect for Health Colorado Dips Slightly for Plan Year 2026

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.

Colorado Premium Assistance – a new program introduced by the Colorado General Assembly and the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise for plan year 2026 – has helped reduce monthly costs for many Coloradans.

Still, a rise in insurance premiums following the expiration of federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) may have discouraged some residents from enrolling, said Kevin Patterson, chief executive officer of Connect for Health Colorado – and may also be driving an 83% increase in the number of people who are canceling their plans compared to this time last year, he noted.

“On one hand, it’s encouraging to see enrollment remain relatively steady, with only a slight dip, and to see so many people receive meaningful financial assistance,” Patterson said. “That is thanks in large part to the state’s Colorado Premium Assistance program and to our statewide network of certified Assisters and insurance Brokers, who helped customers find the most affordable plan to meet their needs. On the other hand, it’s deeply troubling that a record number of people are canceling their plans because they simply can’t afford their monthly payments, or are being forced to choose between health care and basic necessities like housing and food. Without federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits, this alarming trend is, sadly, emerging across the country.”

Connect for Health Colorado also reported enrollment declines across several populations. Enrollment among new customers dropped by approximately 24% compared to last year, while enrollments among customers ages 55 and older declined by 6%. Enrollment among customers in rural communities also decreased 5%.

Ahead of open enrollment, Connect for Health Colorado and other state health leaders anticipated that older adults and people living in rural communities would be among those most impacted by rising premiums and the expiration of enhanced Premium Tax Credits.

“For the past year, state health leaders and I have consistently emphasized the importance of extending federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits to maintain access to affordable health insurance – and that conversation doesn’t end with open enrollment,” Patterson said. “If federal lawmakers take action and vote to extend ePTCs, Connect for Health Colorado is ready to support our customers and allow them to shop, compare, and select new affordable health insurance plans.”

Connect for Health Colorado’s Year-Round Support

While open enrollment for plan year 2026 has ended, people can still buy health insurance or make changes to a current plan year-round if they experience certain life changes. Find a list of qualifying life changes on Connect for Health Colorado’s website.

Connect for Health Colorado’s network of certified enrollment Assisters and insurance Brokers are available to help year-round, are located throughout Colorado, and can provide free support in multiple languages.

Those who experience a qualifying life change are encouraged to learn more about their options at ConnectforHealthCO.com or by calling 855-752-6749.

About Connect for Health Colorado

Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official health insurance marketplace. Its mission is to increase access, affordability and choice for individuals, families and small employers purchasing health insurance in Colorado. It is the only place where residents can qualify for and receive financial help for their health insurance.

Media Contact:
Michelle Mendoza
Media Consultant
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 303-210-1461