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Guest Columnist – Affordable Health Insurance for All Coloradans

Affordable Health Insurance for All Coloradans Defendamos acceso a seguro médico asequible en Colorado

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Kevin Patterson

Connect for Health Colorado CEO

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Colorado has spent decades building its status as a healthy state. That foundation is now under threat from one thing rankings don’t measure: whether people can actually afford health insurance when they need it. Connect for Health Colorado (C4HCO) works to make health insurance more accessible, affordable and understandable for individuals and small businesses.

Over the years, we’ve helped Coloradans learn about coverage options and lower premiums through financial assistance and offered a platform to compare plans and providers – all so you can find coverage that meets your budget and health care needs. Our impact is significant.

Our impact is significant

Last year, nearly 300,000 Coloradans enrolled in a health plan through C4HCO – a 19% increase from the year before. For five years in a row, enrollment has hit record highs, and Colorado’s uninsured rate dropped to its lowest level ever in 2024. As Open Enrollment begins for 2026, the landscape has changed.

The federal financial assistance that more than 200,000 Coloradans have come to rely on is facing significant cuts. And the Division of Insurance announced final premium rate increases – with average costs expected to double next year for Coloradans purchasing private insurance.

That makes our work more critical than ever

As Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace, we’re committed to transparency, choice and support. We know choosing health insurance can be confusing. We also know going without it can be devastating – for your health and finances. Open Enrollment runs from November 1 through January 15, 2026.

To have coverage start on January 1, you must enroll by December 15. With changes in both premiums and financial assistance, it’s more important than ever to review options and find the plan that fits your needs. Our online Estimate & Explore tool makes it easy to compare plans and costs. We are here to help you, for free!

Available tool

Our certified Assisters and Brokers are available across the state, speak many languages and provide free guidance. They can answer your questions and help you apply for programs like the new Colorado Premium Assistance program, which lowers monthly costs for households earning under 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

At Connect for Health Colorado, we believe everyone deserves health coverage they can afford and access, no matter their income or language. That’s not just fair, it’s vital to maintaining the health of our communities and of our state.