Colorado health insurance plans
How individual and family health coverage works in Colorado, in plain language.
ACA Open Enrollment opens November 1st
Open enrollment starts November 1st. Not sure which Colorado plan is right for you? Call and we'll help you find it.
Where Colorado residents shop
Colorado residents who buy their own coverage shop on Connect for Health Colorado at connectforhealthco.com. That is also where income-based help with monthly premiums (premium tax credits) is applied. Colorado runs its own marketplace, so it has its own enrollment dates and rules.
Colorado's Medicaid program goes by its own brand name, Health First Colorado, rather than being called Medicaid directly on member-facing materials -- worth knowing since Colorado-specific paperwork and enrollment sites generally lead with that name instead.
Enrolling
Open enrollment dates are set by the marketplace and can change from year to year, so confirm this year’s window on the marketplace site before you plan around it. Outside open enrollment you generally need a qualifying life event, such as losing other coverage, moving, or a change in household size.
What affects the plans you see
- Where you live. Plans and premiums are set by area within Colorado, so your county matters. Find your county.
- Income and household size. These determine help with premiums and whether you may qualify for Medicaid instead.
- Plan level. Metal levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) trade a lower monthly premium against higher costs when you use care.
Health First Colorado, Colorado's name for its Medicaid program, has a member contact center at 1-800-221-3943 -- that's the right place to start if your Colorado Medicaid eligibility changed.
Connect for Health Colorado, reachable at 1-855-752-6749, is Colorado's own marketplace, not HealthCare.gov -- Colorado ACA shopping and subsidy questions go through the state site directly.
Free Medicare counseling is available in Colorado through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 303-894-7552, run directly by the Colorado Division of Insurance and separate from Colorado Medical Coverage's own free phone help.
Questions
Where do I shop for ACA health plans in Colorado?
Colorado residents shop through Connect for Health Colorado (https://connectforhealthco.com). An independent agent such as Lander LLC can explain the plans for you, but the marketplace is the only place premium tax credits are applied.
How do I apply for Medicaid in Colorado?
Medicaid in Colorado is run through Health First Colorado (Department of Health Care Policy and Financing) (https://www.healthfirstcolorado.com). Eligibility depends on income, household size and other factors, and it is decided by the state, not by an insurance agency.
Who regulates insurance in Colorado?
Colorado Division of Insurance (https://doi.colorado.gov) regulates insurance companies and agents in Colorado. You can use it to check that an agent or company is licensed and to file a complaint.
Is there free, unbiased Medicare help in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) (303-894-7552) offers free Medicare counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), separate from any insurance agency.
Does Colorado Medical Coverage cost anything to use?
There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent. Insurance premiums and plan costs are set by the insurance companies and are separate from our help.
Questions about Colorado health plans? Call 855-367-1095
Call Lander LLC to go over your options. There is no cost to call or to speak with an agent, and you are never required to enroll in anything.
Call 855-367-1095Reviewed by Richard Lander, licensed insurance agent (NPN 21255551), Lander LLC. Last updated October 3, 2026. This page is educational and is not a quote, an offer of coverage, or legal or tax advice.