When you apply, you can decide to use some or all the financial help you qualify for in advance, or wait to get a credit on your tax return.

 
The financial help available to you—a tax credit made available through the government and only available when you apply and buy through Connect for Health Colorado—will be based on what you estimate your annual income and family size will be that year.

 
When you file your federal income taxes, the IRS will double-check to make sure you got the correct amount of tax credit, based on what your actual income and family size was for that year. And they will make it right through your taxes—some families may get more money, while others may have to pay money back if their estimates were not correct.

 
If you think your income may increase or you plan to move throughout the year, it’s best to take only some of the financial help each month or wait and take it all as a lump sum as a tax credit on your tax return, so you can avoid having to pay any money back

Coloradans who have an offer of affordable health insurance, even if they do not sign-up for that coverage, are not eligible for financial help through Connect for Health Colorado. Examples include (but are not limited to):

• Health First Colorado (Medicaid)
• Your employer
• Medicare
• TRICARE
• The Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) Program

People who don’t qualify for financial help because they can enroll in other affordable coverage can still enroll in a health plan through Connect for Health Colorado, but at full price. Make sure you tell us about any other health coverage you have access to when you apply through Connect for Health Colorado.

You can qualify for three types of financial help through Connect for Health Colorado: Premium tax credits that lower your monthly premiums (what you pay on a monthly basis), state-funded assistance that automatically lowers costs of premiums (not as a tax credit), and cost-sharing reductions that give you discounts when you go to the doctor, pick up a prescription, or if/when you need to pay your deductible.

 
Depending on your income range and household size, you can qualify for lower monthly premiums OR for BOTH lower monthly premiums and cost-sharing reductions.

The fastest way to find out if you qualify for exclusive savings on health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado is to submit an application. To get started, you can fill in your application now or talk to one of our experts.

If you’d rather see an estimate before you apply, add your income and other household information into our Estimate and Explore tool. You’ll then see an estimate on what you may be able to save with financial assistance for your selected plans.

A: Cigna announced it will no longer offer individual medical planning beginning in 2027. This change is not limited to Connect for Health Colorado, Customers enrolled through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado Connect or directly with Cigna will be affected.

If you are currently enrolled in a Cigna medical plan, your insurance coverage remains in place through December 31, 2026.

Impacted customers qualify for a Special Enrollment period until March 1, 2027. You may use this time to enroll in a different plan if you choose. Customers who wish to change plans before Open Enrollment begins on November 1, 2026, should call the Customer Service Center at 855-752-6749.

Health insurance companies set the premiums for their health plans each year. Before those rates can take effect, they are reviewed by the Colorado Division of Insurance to make sure they meet state and federal laws and are based on the expected cost of providing coverage.

Many factors can affect the cost of health insurance, including the overall cost of medical care, prescription drugs, the cost of care that hospitals and providers deliver but are not paid for, the health needs of people enrolled in health plans and changes in state or federal laws. If you qualify for financial help, federal premium tax credits and state-based premium subsidies can help lower your monthly premium.

Connect for Health Colorado does not set or approve health insurance rates. Our role is to provide a marketplace where you can compare plans, see if you qualify for financial help, and choose the coverage that best fits your needs and budget.

Colorado Option plans were created by the Colorado Option law. The law requires all health insurance companies in the state to offer these standardized health plans at the Bronze, Silver, and Gold coverage levels.

Colorado Option plans are designed to provide more cost/benefit transparency and have lower costs for many services. The benefits, copayments, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum costs are the same for all Colorado Option plans within a specific metal tier (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) across all health insurance companies.

Colorado Continuation and Conversion was created by the Colorado legislature to fill gaps left by COBRA. If you work for a small business, you may be offered Colorado Continuation and Conversion coverage.

Connect for Health Colorado does not administer COBRA or Colorado Continuation. Learn more about Colorado Continuation by visiting the Department of Labor’s website.

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) is a federal law that gives certain employees and their dependents the right to choose to continue group health coverage (e.g. health coverage through their employer) for a limited period of time under certain circumstances, such as job loss or a reduction in work hours. Learn more about COBRA by visiting the Department of Labor’s website.

Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s official state-based health insurance marketplace created as part of the Affordable Care Act. It is the only place individuals and families can qualify for financial help to lower the cost of private health insurance.

For more information, visit our About Us page.