Estimate & Explore is now available, giving Coloradans more time to review their health coverage options before Open Enrollment begins.

Dear Friends and Partners,

Every year, Open Enrollment gives Coloradans an opportunity to evaluate their health coverage and make decisions about the year ahead. For some people, that process is straightforward. For others, it can feel overwhelming.

Health coverage decisions often involve balancing premiums, deductibles, provider networks, prescription drug coverage, and other factors that affect both a household budget and access to care. Those decisions become even more important when costs are rising and families are taking a closer look at their finances.

One of the most consistent things we hear from customers is that they want more time to understand their options before they’re asked to make a decision. That’s why I’m excited that Connect for Health Colorado’s Estimate & Explore tool is now available with Plan Year 2027 information.

Estimate & Explore allows customers to begin reviewing and comparing health plans before Open Enrollment begins on Nov. 1. Customers can explore available coverage options, compare estimated costs, learn about financial help, and begin thinking about which plans may best meet their healthcare needs and budget.

While customers cannot enroll in 2027 coverage until Open Enrollment begins, they can start preparing now.

That additional preparation time can make a meaningful difference. Rather than waiting until enrollment season is underway, customers have an opportunity to familiarize themselves with their options, identify questions, and seek assistance before important enrollment deadlines arrive.

We know that affordability remains a top concern for many Coloradans. Taking time to compare plans is one of the best ways customers can better understand their choices and determine whether their current coverage continues to meet their needs.

We also encourage customers to take advantage of the free help available throughout Colorado. Connect for Health Colorado’s certified Assisters and health insurance Brokers can help people understand their options, evaluate costs, and make informed decisions about their coverage.

Partners can also find key Plan Year 2027 information and resources in our Open Enrollment Plan Year 2027 Message Platform. I encourage you to use and share this resource as you prepare to support customers throughout Open Enrollment.

This year also brings new opportunities for customers to explore coverage through Connect for Health Colorado, including certain off-exchange plans available for shopping through the Marketplace. As the health insurance landscape continues to evolve, our goal remains the same: helping Coloradans understand their options and access the coverage that works best for them.

My advice this year is simple: don’t wait until Open Enrollment begins to start preparing.

Take time now to explore your options. Consider whether your healthcare needs have changed. Review your coverage choices and ask questions if you need help. You don’t need to make a decision today, but you can start preparing today so you’re ready when Open Enrollment begins on Nov. 1.

Thank you for the work you do every day to support Colorado communities and help people access health coverage.

Take care,

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

Join partners from across Colorado for CoverCO 2026 as we prepare for another Open Enrollment season.

Dear Friends and Partners,

Open Enrollment is one of the most important times of the year—for us and for those we serve. It’s also a reminder that there is power in partnership. Together, we’re working toward a shared goal: helping Coloradans access affordable health coverage.

That spirit of collaboration is the foundation of this year’s CoverCO conference and our 2026 theme, Stronger Together: Supporting Coloradans through Ongoing Eligibility and Enrollment Changes. The theme recognizes that many of our neighbors experience changes in eligibility and coverage throughout the year, whether they are enrolled in Medicaid, the Marketplace, or transitioning between the two. Supporting those customers requires coordination, shared knowledge, and a commitment from all of us to provide accurate information and expert help when it is needed most.

That’s why I invite you to join us for CoverCO 2026, taking place virtually October 6-8. The conference is free to attend and designed to help all of us prepare for the upcoming Open Enrollment season.

Register for CoverCO 2026 here.

As you prepare for Open Enrollment, I also encourage you to explore our Open Enrollment Plan Year 2027 Message Platform. This resource provides key messages, resources, and information to support conversations with customers and partners throughout the Open Enrollment period.

At CoverCO, you will receive updates on health coverage programs, eligibility and enrollment processes, system enhancements, and resources available through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado Connect, Health First Colorado, and CHP+. You will also have opportunities to learn from subject matter experts, exchange ideas with colleagues from across the state, and explore tools and strategies to better serve their communities.

Last year, more than 900 people registered for CoverCO, reflecting the commitment of organizations and individuals across Colorado who share a common goal: helping Coloradans access affordable health coverage and understand their options.

In addition to the virtual conference, we are excited to host regional networking events this fall:

• Denver: September 22
• Pueblo: September 24
• Montrose: October 13

These gatherings provide additional opportunities to connect with partners, strengthen relationships, and prepare for Open Enrollment together. Space is limited. If you are interested in learning more or attending one of these events, please contact [email protected].

As we prepare for another Open Enrollment season, I encourage you to register for CoverCO and join us in the important work of supporting Coloradans. Together, we can help ensure people across our state have the help and resources they need to make informed decisions about their health coverage.

Thank you for the work you do every day to support Colorado communities. I look forward to connecting with you at CoverCO 2026.

Take care,

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

Key changes and ways to help Coloradans prepare for Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment is just a few months away, and this year, Connect for Health Colorado is continuing to make it easier for Coloradans to find coverage that works for them, no matter their circumstances.

Whether a customer is enrolling in a marketplace plan, transitioning from another coverage program, or shopping with (or without) financial help, Connect for Health Colorado is here to make it easier to enroll. And you are vital to making sure our neighbors get—and stay—covered.

There are several changes ahead for Plan Year 2027, so we’ve created a comprehensive message platform with information and resources to help you answer questions and support customers.

One significant change: Beginning with Plan Year 2027, customers will be able to explore a broader range of health plans through Connect for Health Colorado. Customers who do not qualify for financial help may see additional options, including off-exchange plans, while customers who qualify for financial help will only see plans eligible for those savings.

That means more individuals and small businesses can come to one place to understand their health coverage options, regardless of whether they qualify for financial help.

This is an important part of our strategic plan to grow and strengthen Colorado’s individual health insurance marketplace. For Connect for Health Colorado, that means providing more Coloradans with choices for their health coverage.

By including off-exchange plans on our platform, we can improve the enrollment experience for a wider range of Coloradans, connect more customers with trusted experts, and make it easier for more people to get insured—all while maintaining a seamless customer experience for those who qualify for financial help and who will continue to see plans eligible for those savings.

As we ready ourselves for Open Enrollment, here are four ways you can help customers understand what’s changing and how they can prepare:

• Encourage customers to maximize their current health benefits by scheduling annual physicals, filling prescriptions, staying up to date on vaccines, and checking balances on Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.
  
• Customers should update their preferred contact method and make sure we have correct email and mailing addresses. That will help ensure they get notices from Connect for Health Colorado about their eligibility, financial help, enrollment and coverage.
  
• Eligible returning customers will see a change in autorenewals this year. For Plan Year 2027, those customers will be automatically re-enrolled at the start of Open Enrollment. But that doesn’t guarantee that their premiums, financial help, plan benefits, provider networks or other coverage details will stay the same. They should review their renewal, compare available plans and verify their household and income information during Open Enrollment.
  
• During Open Enrollment, encourage customers to shop and compare. That may save them money. Customers also have different options this year, including Colorado Access Choice plans. And Cigna is leaving Colorado’s individual medical market, which means current Cigna medical customers will need to select a new plan for 2027. Even customers who are automatically re-enrolled should take time to compare plans, costs, providers and prescription drug coverage.

As November nears, customers will have questions and they’ll need help. That’s why we’re here. Thank you for continuing to be an essential part of our work. I’m grateful to have you alongside us as we prepare for another Open Enrollment.

Take care,

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

Preliminary rates, new enrollment assistance sites, and a change to Open Enrollment dates

---

Dear Friends and Partners,

Health insurance costs are expected to rise again next year, but Colorado’s innovative state solutions are helping keep coverage within reach.

Last week, the Colorado Division of Insurance released preliminary rates for Plan Year 2027.

Insurance companies serving the individual market have requested an average increase of 11%. These are proposed rates, not final rates, and the division will do an in-depth review of each filing over the coming weeks.

We know any increase makes it harder for our neighbors to balance health coverage costs with other household expenses. The expiration of federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits has made it harder for many to afford health insurance, and it continues to affect individual markets across the country.

Colorado has taken meaningful action to help offset these challenges.

Through Colorado Premium Assistance and the state’s Reinsurance Program, our state is helping reduce costs to keep people insured. Colorado Premium Assistance helped more than 176,000 customers lower their premiums this year, and that support continues for 2027.

These investments have helped Colorado fare better than many other states. Our preliminary rate increase is currently below the median among states that have released proposed rates, and our decline in individual-market enrollment has been less severe than the national trend.

The months ahead will require continued partnership. Together, we will help customers compare their options, qualify for financial help, and choose a plan that meets their needs.

---

Strengthening Our Enrollment Assistance Network

I’m happy to share that we have selected partners for our three-year enrollment assistance cycle. Our 2027 partner network includes 89 organizations serving customers at 182 physical locations across Colorado.

Along with new Enrollment Center locations, these additions expand access to health insurance literacy and enrollment assistance in communities across Prowers, Eagle, Garfield, Adams, El Paso, Pueblo, Park, Larimer, Delta, and Alamosa counties.

These partners will provide the trusted, local guidance customers need to understand their options, apply for financial help, and enroll in coverage.

---

Open Enrollment Dates Return to the Traditional Schedule

As many of you know, recent federal developments have restored the traditional Open Enrollment schedule for Plan Year 2027. Open Enrollment will begin Nov. 1, 2026 and end Jan. 15, 2027.

Customers who enroll by Dec. 15 will have coverage beginning Jan. 1. Customers who enroll from Dec. 16 through Jan. 15 will have coverage beginning Feb. 1.

Please be prepared to answer customer questions about these dates and update any websites, flyers, presentations, social media posts, training materials, or other communications that reflected the previously announced Dec. 31 deadline.

We will continue providing resources and information to support your outreach efforts. Providing accurate information early will help customers plan ahead and make informed decisions about their coverage.

Thank you for your continued partnership and your commitment to helping Coloradans get—and stay—covered.

Take care,

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

Dear Friends and Partners,

Colorado is beautiful year-round, and summer offers special opportunities for us to get outside, enjoy everything our state has to offer, and connect with neighbors across our communities.

For many of us, that means county fairs, rodeos, parades, concerts, 4-H exhibits, and the chance to spend time together. At Connect for Health Colorado, it also means meeting Coloradans in their communities to build trust, nurture relationships, and answer questions so people know they can come to us when they need help navigating their health coverage. 

This summer, Connect for Health Colorado is sponsoring or participating in more than a dozen county fairs and rodeos throughout the state, with strong outreach in rural communities. You’ll find us at the:

• Gay Rodeo Association’s Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo, July 10-12
• El Paso County Fair, July 11-18
• Mesa County Fair, July 14-18
• Gilpin County Fair, July 17-19
• Weld County Fair, July 18-27 
• Arapahoe County Fair, July 23-26
• Douglas County Fair, July 24-Aug. 2
• Fremont County Fair, July 24-Aug. 1 
• Elbert County Fair, July 25-Aug. 2
• Baca County Fair, July 26-Aug. 1
• Middle Park Fair, July 26-Aug. 9 
• Garfield County Fair, Aug. 4-8
• Routt County Fair, Aug. 7-16 
• Arkansas Valley Fair, Aug. 19-22 

These gatherings are fun, and they are a meaningful reminder that what we do matters. Access to health coverage is essential. It affects our families, friends, small business owners, farmers, retirees, young adults, and neighbors in every corner of Colorado. When we show up in communities, we have an opportunity to listen, learn, and help people understand their options. 

For many of you—our valued community partners, Assisters, Brokers, and healthcare leaders—summer is also a chance to catch your breath before the busy Open Enrollment season begins this fall. Take advantage of this time to recharge, reconnect, and enjoy the communities we serve. The work ahead will be important. 

Partnerships & Policy

While our team is connecting with Coloradans across the state, we’re also preparing for the months ahead. I recently traveled to New Mexico with other members of our leadership team to meet with our colleagues from other state-based marketplaces as part of the State Marketplace Network through the National Academy for State Health Policy. We discussed upcoming changes and how state-based marketplaces can navigate them. 

These conversations allow us to share what we have learned in Colorado and learn from others who are facing many of the same challenges. Collaboration strengthens our work and helps us better support our customers. It also keeps us focused on how we can grow the individual market so more Coloradans get and stay covered. 

I hope to see many of you out at events this summer. 

Take care,

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

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

The state legislative session has come to an end, and I’m grateful for the ways Colorado continues to lead on preserving access to affordable health coverage. 

Senate Bill 26-178 is one way state leaders are helping Coloradans get and stay covered. Once signed, it will protect essential programs like Colorado Premium Assistance and OmniSalud, which are funded through the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise. 

That matters for our friends and neighbors who rely on Connect for Health Colorado for health insurance. Colorado Premium Assistance, in particular, has become an important part of keeping coverage within reach. 

Despite significant changes to federal financial help, Colorado Premium Assistance helped reduce premium costs for more than 176,000 Coloradans, and for households that receive financial help, it is keeping coverage costs about the same as they were in 2025. It has also helped prevent a steep drop in enrollment, especially among customers ages 26 to 34. 

Colorado and other states with premium assistance programs also saw smaller enrollment decreases this year than states without similar programs. Customers who received Colorado Premium Assistance reported higher satisfaction with their health insurance choices and fewer concerns about costs. 

I am grateful to the General Assembly, state Division of Insurance, and the Governor’s office for their support of Senate Bill 26-178. Their leadership reflects a shared commitment to preserving access to affordable health coverage. Connect for Health Colorado is proud to be part of that effort. 

We continue to show what it means to be a strong partner to the state and the customers we serve. As part of the funding mechanism for Senate Bill 26-178, we offered to return $9 million of our operating budget to the state in support of programs like Colorado Premium Assistance and OmniSalud—returning money to taxpayers and directly reducing costs for Coloradans who depend on these programs.

This wasn’t a difficult decision. Because of the financial discipline we’ve shown and the strategic investments we’ve made over time, we’re able to take this step with no impact to our operations, no changes to our teams, and no disruption to the customers we serve. That’s a reflection of how strong Connect for Health Colorado is—and how confident we are in where we’re headed. 

Strengthening Our Digital Platform
Connect for Health Colorado recently reached a significant technological milestone with the completion of our eligibility modernization (ELMO) work. This has been a multi-year effort that touched nearly every part of the organization. It required persistence, coordination, and deep expertise, and it positions us well for the future.

ELMO strengthens the stability of our platform today and makes it easier for customers to navigate and enroll, while giving us the flexibility to continue improving their experience over time.

These are meaningful changes that help reduce barriers and make it easier for Coloradans to get the coverage they need. It also supports our ability to grow, particularly in the individual market, and to respond more quickly as the landscape continues to evolve.

Open Enrollment Dates Are Changing
Several changes are ahead for Plan Year 2027. One of the biggest changes is a new federal rule that will shorten the Open Enrollment Period. 

Due to a change in federal regulations, Open Enrollment will run Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. All customers who enroll by Dec. 31 will have coverage beginning Jan. 1. That means customers will no longer need to complete their enrollment by Dec. 15 to have coverage that starts Jan. 1. This change was directed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and applies to health insurance marketplaces nationwide.  

This is an important change, and we know customers will have questions. A shorter enrollment period means they will have less time to compare and select plans, which makes our roles even more important. We’ll be ready to help Coloradans understand their options, choose plans that meet their needs, and stay covered. 

Take care, 

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

To Our Valued Stakeholders,

Today, Connect for Health Colorado released its Plan Year 2026 Open Enrollment Report and like every other year, it shares valuable cost and enrollment data from our annual Open Enrollment period. 

But you and I know that this year wasn’t like any other. 

The expiration of federal Enhanced Premium Tax Credits reduced or eliminated federal financial help for approximately 78,000 Coloradans. We estimate customers are paying approximately $19 million more per month in premiums compared to Plan Year 2025.

The good news: Colorado has invested in thoughtful, innovative state strategies to protect Coloradans and provide meaningful savings for many households.

The state’s new Colorado Premium Assistance program for Plan Year 2026 offset premium costs for more than 176,000 customers. It has helped prevent a steep drop in enrollment, especially for customers between the ages of 26 and 34. And, it has kept coverage costs about the same as they were in 2025 for households that receive financial help. 

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

I am extremely grateful to the Governor’s Office, the General Assembly, the Division of Insurance, the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise, and to you—our partners in communities throughout Colorado—for helping protect access to affordable coverage.

Access is key, and many of you played an important role in helping customers navigate their options and apply for financial help. While we have faced significant changes and challenges this year, there are reasons to be proud of the work we’ve done together. Highlights from the data in this year’s report include:

• More than 187,000 Coloradans enrolled with the help of a trained, certified Assister or licensed health insurance Broker, and 44% of completed appointments with Assisters were conducted in languages other than English.
• More than 71% of customers who enrolled with an expert qualified for financial help. 
• Connect for Health Colorado’s Customer Service Center handled more than 84,000 calls during Open Enrollment, and set a record customer satisfaction rate during one of our busiest months, with more than 91% of customers satisfied with the service they received. That’s about 40% higher than six years ago.
• Our network of 60 Enrollment Centers provided in-person expert assistance to customers from all 64 counties, and 30% of customers in rural communities were served through Enrollment Centers.
• This year, 645 trusted community leaders made it possible for Connect for Health Colorado to participate in 160 outreach events and deliver 185 presentations in 34 of Colorado’s counties.

Through our partnerships and innovative solutions like Colorado Premium Assistance, Colorado is leading the way in keeping affordable health coverage within reach for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors.

As the national health coverage landscape evolves, we remain committed to helping Coloradans get—and stay—covered. More changes are ahead, but I am confident in our collective ability and in Colorado’s leaders to continue protecting access to affordable health coverage for every Coloradan.

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

Connecting With Our Rural Partners
Nina Schwartz, our Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, joined other health care leaders at the Colorado Rural Health Center Conference last week to present on upcoming policy changes affecting our work. The conference brought rural health care partners together to learn and explore solutions to health-related challenges rural communities face. The theme of the conference was “Navigating a New Frontier.” We are grateful to partner with rural providers as we navigate the changes and challenges ahead.

Take care, 

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