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.
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