Yes, if you do not qualify for Health First Colorado or Child Health Plan Plus, you might be able to get financial help to lower the cost of private health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado. 

The amount of financial help you can get is based on the cost of the premiums where you live, how many people are in your household and your estimated yearly income. 

Use the Estimate and Explore tool to get an estimate of how much you might be able to save through different plans and programs.

• Watch your mail or email. You will get a notification from the State of Colorado with your application results. You will also receive a letter or email if more information is needed to complete the process.
• You may also check the results of your application through your PEAK account.
  • If you do not have a PEAK account, you can create one at Colorado.gov/PEAK. 
  • You can use your Connect for Health Colorado log-in and password information to sign into PEAK.
  • You can also use PEAK to manage your Health First Colorado or CHP+ benefits, print benefit cards, report changes and more.
• You do not need to submit another application through PEAK.

Yes. You can still purchase a private health insurance plan at full price if you qualify for Health First Colorado. However, if you qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you will not qualify for financial help to lower the cost of your health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado. You will pay full price for your health insurance plan.

You can apply for Health First Colorado and CHP+ through your application to Connect for Health Colorado. Based on your income level and other household information, your application may be identified as eligible, and shared with the State of Colorado for review.

If you are approved for Medicaid coverage, your account will transfer to Health First Colorado. If you are not approved, your application will be reviewed through Connect for Health Colorado, including identifying any financial assistance you may qualify for through state- or federally-funded programs.

You can also apply for Health First Colorado through PEAK:

• Online at Colorado.gov/PEAK
• In person at your local county office or an Application Assistance Site
• By phone at 1-800-221-3943 / State Relay: 711
• By mail

For more detailed information about how to apply for Medicaid, you can also go to Health First Colorado’s website.

If your family size changes, you should report the change to Connect for Health Colorado. A change in your family size qualifies you for a special enrollment period.

 
If your income changes during the year, you may be eligible to switch into a plan with healthcare discounts that lower your out-of-pocket costs when you go to the doctor.

 
These changes could also result in an increased tax credit or it could cause you to owe money to the IRS. Call us within 30 days so we can help adjust the amount of financial help you receive. That way, you won’t have any surprises when you file your income taxes.

If you’re able to get health insurance from another source that is considered affordable and meets certain benefit standards, you will most likely not be eligible for financial help.

 
If you have an offer of health insurance from your job, you will most likely not be eligible for financial help to lower your monthly premiums through Connect for Health Colorado. However, members of your family who have the option to enroll on your job’s health plan might qualify for financial help on our marketplace and are encouraged to apply.

When you file your taxes at the end of the year, 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. Some families may get more money through the filing process, while others may have to pay money back if their estimates were inaccurate.

 
Important: If your income changes significantly, you should report your change in income to Connect for Health Colorado so that your monthly premium can be adjusted.

When you apply through Connect for Health Colorado, you will enter your personal and financial information to find out how much financial assistance you are eligible for. When you first apply, you can choose whether to use all, some or none of the tax credits to lower your monthly premiums. The premiums will automatically be shown as lowered to the correct amount.

The amount of financial help you can receive is based on your family’s specific situation, including your age, family’s size, where you live and your family’s estimated annual income.

In almost every case, yes. You can use financial help to buy any health insurance plan sold through Connect for Health Colorado. The only exception is for young adults under the age of 30. Young adults are offered Catastrophic plans, but cannot receive financial help to purchase a Catastrophic plan.

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.

Premium rates are calculated using three criteria: age, the region of the state you live in, and tobacco use. Your gender, pregnancy status, health history, and other personal information will not be considered in the calculation of rates.

All rate and plan information can be found at the Colorado Division of Insurance website.

If you are experiencing issues while trying to enroll, please read through the following to troubleshoot the issue prior to notifying Connect for Health Colorado. If none of the following resolves or pertains to the issue, please give us a call and provide us with as much detail as possible.

(1) Reboot. Try rebooting before reporting any IT related incident or problem.

(2) If using Internet Explorer, make sure the compatibility mode is checked off.

(3) If you are noticing an issue that you think is part of a bigger problem or outage, please check with coworkers nearby to confirm the impact before contacting support. This helps us understand the scope of the problem.

(4) Try to reboot your system at least once every 3 days. Only locking your system when you leave each evening can cause performance problems.

Submit a complaint related to your enrollment experience through our online form.

To dispute your application results, submit a formal appeal.

Submit a complaint about your health plan by contacting your health insurance company directly.

You can also contact the Department of Insurance by filing an online request. To speak with a Consumer Affairs representative, call: (303) 894-7490 or (800) 930-3745 if calling from outside of the Denver metro area.

In general, if you are enrolled in, or qualify for, any of the following types of coverage, you would not qualify for financial help through our Connect for Health Colorado Marketplace:

(1) Employer coverage, unless the coverage is unaffordable (defined as your contribution to the premium for self-only coverage costs more than 9.96%* of your household income) or does not meet minimum value.

(2) Government-sponsored coverage, including Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), Medicare Part A coverage, Peace Corp coverage, Veterans Affairs (VA) health coverage and TRICARE coverage.

The best way to find out if you or members in your household qualify for financial help is to complete an application.

*percentage as of 2026

In general, if you are enrolled in, or qualify for, any of the following types of coverage, you would not qualify for financial help through our Connect for Health Colorado Marketplace:

(1) Employer coverage, unless the coverage is unaffordable (defined as your contribution to the premium for self-only coverage costs more than 9.78% of your household income) or does not meet minimum value.

(2) Government-sponsored coverage, including Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), Medicare Part A coverage, Peace Corp coverage, Veterans Affairs (VA) health coverage and TRICARE coverage.

The best way to find out if you or members in your household qualify for financial help is to complete an application.

You can apply for coverage and financial help through Connect for Health Colorado in any of the following ways:

(1) Online – Complete your application online at ConnectforHealthCO.com.

(2) With a local, certified expert – Complete your application with a certified Broker or at a local Assistance Site with a Health Coverage Guide or Certified Application Counselor.

(3) Telephone – Call 1-855-752-6749, TTY at 1-855-695-5935, Monday- Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

(4) Post mail – Mail a paper application to: Connect for Health Colorado Individual Applications 4600 South Ulster Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80237

Completing an application will let you know what financial help programs you and your family are eligible for. To receive the financial help, you must buy a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado. You will not be able to receive financial help if you buy the health insurance plan directly from the health insurance company.

To be eligible to buy health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, an individual must:

(1) Be lawfully present in the United States;

(2) Reside in and/or be a resident of Colorado;

(3) Not be incarcerated.

Individuals who are not eligible to buy a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado can still apply for others in their household who are eligible.

Health insurance companies organize their plans into these different coverage levels (sometimes called “metal tiers”): Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Catastrophic. Each level represents a plan’s general approach to sharing costs with you.

You can apply your financial help to any one of the metal tier plans, except for the Catastrophic plans. Although prices vary between plans and insurance companies, all Colorado Option plans have the same benefits, copayments, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum costs within a specific coverage level across all health insurance companies.

Learn more about the difference between metal tiers.

In order to qualify for financial help, you must:

(1) Buy your health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado.

(2) Meet the income requirements based on your household size (Check the Quick Cost & Plan Finder to see if you qualify).

(3) Not already have access to health coverage that is affordable and meets certain standards.

You can determine which financial help programs you and your family qualify for by completing an application.

No. As part of the Affordable Care Act, a health insurance company cannot deny your health coverage for any reason, including your health history, a high risk job, or a preexisting condition.

Starting with the 2019 tax year, there is no requirement for individuals to have a Qualified Health Plan or pay a penalty for not having a plan.

Check out our guide to using your health insurance. We offer helpful suggestions and tips about how to get the most value from your health insurance. Also, your health insurance company can help you understand and use your health insurance. Contact your health insurance company’s customer service center with questions regarding what doctors you can see, how much certain services or medications may cost you, or other health plan-specific questions.

If you forgot your password or you are locked our of your account, click here or call 855-752-6749 reset your password. If you forgot your email/username, click here.

When starting the application, you should indicate that you are interested in receiving financial help to lower the cost of health insurance. Connect for Health Colorado will determine your eligibility for financial help based on the cost of insurance where you live, household size, and your household’s estimated gross income for the year during which you are receiving the credit. If you overestimate or underestimate your income and receive more or less tax credit than you were actually eligible for, the difference will be reconciled by the IRS when you file your federal income taxes. For this reason, it is important to report changes in income, household size and address to Connect for Health Colorado.

If you qualify, you can choose to receive the Advance Premium Tax Credits in one of two ways:

(1) Claim some or all of the tax credit in advance, which means the credit will go directly to the insurance company to lower your monthly premium.

(2) Receive the tax credit in a lump sum when you file your taxes.

Once your Medicare Part A coverage starts, you will not qualify for the premium tax credit through Connect for Health Colorado (you’d have to pay full price). In most cases, you should call us to end your coverage through Connect for Health Colorado before starting your Medicare coverage to avoid an overlap in coverage.

If you enroll in Medicare after your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you may have to pay a Part B late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Medicare. Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for information about enrolling in Part B.

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Tablets and mobile devices are not compatible with our application software, but you may browse the rest of the website on your tablet or mobile device prior to signing in and shopping.

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Contact our Customer Service Center at 855-752-6749 to request a termination of your plan. Your plan will end at the end of the month in which you contact us.

The quality ratings are based on the experiences reported by customers and are rated from one to five stars.  A one star rating is the lowest and a five star rating is the highest. The experiences reported come from customer survey results and measurements of clinical quality.

The Federal Poverty Level is a measure of income level issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services. Federal poverty levels are used to determine your eligibility for certain programs and benefits.

Connect for Health Colorado offers a variety of health insurance plan types, including HMOs, EPOs, and HSAs, from a total of 6 health insurance companies. The health plans available to you are based on where the health insurance companies choose to sell. All Marketplace health plans are submitted to and approved by the Division of Insurance.

New this year: Colorado Option plans. 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. This makes it easier to compare plans and know how much you’ll pay for the most common services.

All health insurance plans offered by our Marketplace include Essential Health Benefits, including:
• Ambulatory patient services
• Emergency services
• Hospitalization
• Maternity and newborn care
• Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
• Prescription drugs
• Rehabilitative and Habilitative services and devices
• Laboratory services
• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
• Pediatric services, including oral and vision care

Most plans from health insurance companies have flexibility in determining how these benefits are covered, and some offer additional services like chiropractic care.

However, Colorado Option plans within each coverage level cover all the same benefits for the same prices, no matter what company you buy from.

You also may have the option to buy stand-alone dental or vision care through Connect for Health Colorado.

You have the right to appeal your application results when you apply to buy a health plan or receive financial help from Connect for Health Colorado. If you were denied Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or CHP+, you must file an appeal with the county office in which you reside. Connect for Health Colorado cannot process appeals for Health First Colorado or CHP+.

To appeal an eligibility result you received from Connect for Health Colorado, please submit an appeal request form within 30 days of your application results. You can find the appeal form and instructions on how to file an appeal in your application results notice, online, or by calling the Customer Service Center at 855-752-6749.

If you would like someone to help you with the application process, we offer free, expert help from our Certified Brokers and Assisters.

A Small Business Tax Credit is a tax credit designed for small businesses to help offset a portion of their cost of offering health insurance to their employees. The tax credit may cover up to 50% of an employer’s costs or (up to 35% for qualifying non-profits). The Small Business Tax Credit will be available for two consecutive years. Businesses will receive the tax credit when they file their income taxes.

To be eligible, a Colorado employer must:

• Have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs)
• Have an average employee wage of less than $53,000 a year (as of tax year 2017)
• Pay a minimum of 50% of the premium cost for single coverage for each employee (uniformity rules apply)

To estimate whether or not you may be eligible for a tax credit, you can use our Small Business Tax Credit Calculator.

For more information, visit the IRS website.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed by Congress in 2010. Along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, these two laws make up what is known as the federal health reform law. These laws created a number of changes that primarily affect private and public health insurance programs. Some key changes include:

• A mandate that a health insurance exchange (or “Marketplace”) be established in each state, administered by the state or the federal government.
• An end to lifetime limits on coverage.
• Certain preventive health services, such as annual exams, are free to insured Coloradans.
• Adults cannot be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition or health history.

For more information on the Affordable Care Act , please visit the federal health reform website.

Tax Dependents

You (the taxpayer), your spouse/partner (if you file taxes jointly), and whoever is claimed as a dependent on your tax return.

Adult Children Up to Age 26

Even if you no longer claim your adult child on your tax return, you can include them on your application and enroll them in your family health insurance plan. You will want to provide their address, income, and tax filing status on the application, which means they may qualify for different financial help programs, or a different amount, than the rest of the household.

Victims of Domestic Violence and/or Spousal Abandonment

You can qualify for financial help, even if you are married and filing separately, if you are the victim of domestic violence and/or spousal abandonment.

Information about tax households, the definition of a dependent, and other tax filing topics can be found on the IRS website.

Individuals must apply for an exemption with the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace, Healthcare.gov, rather than Connect for Health Colorado. Eligible individuals will receive an Exemption Certificate Number from the federal government. Be sure to save this number for when you file your taxes. Individuals applying for an exemption based on coverage being unaffordable, membership in a health care sharing ministry, membership in a federally-recognized tribe or being incarcerated can claim these exemptions when they file their taxes and do not need to apply for an exemption beforehand.

Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the federal government for individuals who are age 65 or older, certain people with disabilities and other special populations. Connect for Health Colorado does not administer Medicare. Learn more about Medicare eligibility and enrollment, and how Medicare coverage may affect your coverage options through the Marketplace:

General Information on Medicare
Information on Medicare and the Marketplace

An employer-sponsored plan is considered “affordable” based onthe percentage the employee is required to contribute to the premiums for self-only coverage. The employee should not have to contribute more than a certain “contribution percentage” of their total household Modified Adjusted Gross Income.

For 2026, the contribution percentage is 9.96% (this percentage will increase annually).

Your employer-sponsored plan must also provide “minimum value.” A health plan meets the minimum value standard if:
(1) It pays at least 60% of the total cost of medical services and
(2) Its benefits include substantial coverage of physician and inpatient hospital services.

If you experience a change that may affect your health insurance options, such as marriage, the birth or adoption of a child, a move, or a change in income, you should report it to Connect for Health Colorado within 30 days of the event. Connect for Health Colorado will determine if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period or if your eligibility for financial help has changed.

Note: You should report changes to Connect for Health Colorado as soon as possible to avoid receiving more Premium Tax Credit than you qualify for. If you receive excess Premium Tax Credit during the year, you may be required to pay some or all of it back when you file your federal income taxes.

The income you report on your application that we use to determine how much financial help you can receive is called your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). In general, it is your estimated adjusted gross income (the income you report when you file your federal taxes) plus any non-taxable Social Security, tax-exempt interest, or foreign income you have for the year for which you are applying. Remember to report income changes to Connect for Health Colorado to make sure you’re getting the right amount of Premium Tax Credit during the year.

Information about how to file taxes, including what incomes and allowances should be included, can be found on the IRS website.

A Special Enrollment Period is a period of time outside of the annual Open Enrollment Period during which you and your household can shop for and enroll in a health insurance plan. You might qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you or someone in your household experiences a Life Change Event, such as losing health insurance coverage from a job, moving, getting married or having a baby.

An Open Enrollment Period is when you can sign up for a health insurance plan. There is one Open Enrollment Period every year. Open Enrollment begins on November 1 and runs through January 15.

Your coverage will automatically end at the end of the year. You will have the option to either automatically renew your coverage or actively select a new plan for the year. We will notify you whether your plan will be automatically renewed, when we will renew your plan, and any other steps you need to take ahead of the Open Enrollment Period, which begins Nov. 1. If you are not eligible for automatic renewal, we will notify you and ask you to submit a new application for financial help and a health plan.

Health First Colorado is a state-sponsored health insurance program that provides free or low-cost care for Coloradans who qualify. It is a type of medical assistance program and is administered by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. When you apply for financial help through Connect for Health Colorado, your eligibility for Health First Colorado will be assessed first. If you do not qualify for Health First Colorado, you may be eligible for financial help through Connect for Health Colorado.

“Minimum Essential Coverage” is a standard or type of coverage you need to meet the individual mandate requirement under the Affordable Care Act. Some examples of health insurance plans that qualify as Minimum Essential Coverage are:

• Any Connect for Health Colorado plan
• Medicare (certain Parts and conditions apply)
• Children’s Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
• TRICARE (for veterans and veteran families)
• Peace Corps
• Volunteer plans

If you made a mistake, contact the Customer Service Center or your local Broker or Assister. If you accidentally selected the wrong plan or would like to select a different one and are outside of the Open Enrollment Period, you will need to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period or until you experience a Life Change Event.

Note: Do not submit multiple changes through Colorado PEAK or Connect for Health Colorado’s website to correct a mistake. This will only compound the issue.

You can sign up for a dental plan through Connect for Health Colorado during the annual Open Enrollment Period (November 1—January 15) or if you have a Qualifying Life Change Event. You do not need to buy a health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado to buy a dental plan.

We offer dental plans that cover children only, or children and adults. Some health insurance plans sold through Connect for Health Colorado offer dental coverage for children under 19 years of age.

A Premium Tax Credit is a financial help program designed to lower the monthly cost of health insurance for individuals and families. To be eligible for a Premium Tax Credit, you must buy your health insurance plan through Connect for Health Colorado and meet the income requirements. You can take the Premium Tax Credit in advance and apply it to the monthly premium, or you can wait and take it when you file your federal income taxes.

If you qualify for a Premium Tax Credit, you may also qualify for additional financial help in the form of Cost-Sharing Reductions. You can determine which financial help programs you and your family qualify for by completing an application.

Cost-Sharing Reductions are not payments; rather, they are applied to the Silver-level plan you select to lower the out-of-pocket payments associated with that plan. This means that, when you use health care services, you will pay lower deductibles, co-payments, and prescription drug costs.