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