Division of Insurance Announces Final ACA Health Insurance Premium Increases for Plan Year 2027
DOI saved Colorado consumers over $42 million this upcoming plan year
DENVER - The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), today released the final approved premium information on private health insurance plans for 2027 for the individual market, which serves Coloradans who do not receive coverage through an employer, as well as the small group market, for small businesses that purchase coverage for employees. Premiums in Colorado will increase, on average, 10% in the individual market, compared to the 15% national median.
An important part of DOI’s work is to review submitted premium rate filings from insurance companies to ensure they comply with state and federal laws and to protect consumers from excessive or unfair premiums. For Plan Year 2027, the Division of Insurance saved Colorado consumers $42,136,281 on their premiums through the rate review process. Despite health insurance premium increases this year, Colorado is faring better than other states. Premium increases are lower in Colorado than the median across all states.
“While Congress is pulling the rug out from under millions of Americans struggling to afford healthcare, Colorado is stepping up to save people money. We’re slowing insurance rate increases in the private market well below the national average and saving Coloradans millions of dollars and keeping the individual market from ballooning in a way that would hurt employers, employees and Coloradans seeking insurance in the private market,” said Governor Polis.
“Where Congress has failed, Colorado is stepping up. Despite the loss of the enhanced premium tax credits, we are doing everything we can to keep health insurance prices down so Coloradans can afford access to health care. I want to thank our rate review team for all their hard work this filing season. Because of their diligence, we are saving Coloradans millions of dollars. But make no mistake: Congress still needs to restore the subsidies that millions of Americans relied on to afford their health insurance,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway.
Premium increases can partially be attributed to Congress’ failure to extend the federal enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) last year, which had lowered costs to Americans since 2021. Expiration of ePTCs in Colorado resulted in a doubling of premium costs on average for hundreds of thousands of Coloradans in the individual market for the 2026 plan year and continues to cause instability.
Because Colorado took action during the August 2025 special session to prevent the federal cuts from causing even greater increases in health care costs, Colorado's enrollment drop this year is less than it is in many other states. To further protect Colorado consumers from steeper healthcare costs, Governor Polis signed SB26-178 into law earlier this year to continue to provide relief to Coloradans through Reinsurance and Colorado Premium Assistance (CPA). Thanks to CPA, financially assisted customers will see an estimated net premium increase of just $20 per month from 2026 to 2027. Without this support, increases would have been more than three times higher, averaging $69 per month.
Colorado’s marketplace continues to be competitive. Open Enrollment will begin on November 1, 2026, with a new carrier in the individual market, Colorado Access. Federal changes announced on September 22, 2026 regarding removing individuals from Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces don’t apply to Colorado which has its own state-based exchange. As consumers shop around, the Division wants to remind them of Colorado Option plans, which continue to provide plans with $0 primary care and mental health visits.
The following table shows the average approved rate increase by rating area for the individual and small group markets. Premiums are expected to increase by 14% in the small group market.
|
Market
|
Rating Area
|
Average Premium Increase
|
|
Individual
|
1
|
12%
|
| |
2
|
9.7%
|
| |
3
|
10.8%
|
| |
4
|
9.5%
|
| |
5
|
15.5%
|
| |
6
|
10.0%
|
| |
7
|
10.4%
|
| |
8
|
5.9%
|
| |
9
|
11.8%
|
| |
|
|
|
Small Group
|
1
|
15.2%
|
| |
2
|
14.9%
|
| |
3
|
14.6%
|
| |
4
|
10.8%
|
| |
5
|
12.7%
|
| |
6
|
11.4%
|
| |
7
|
15.0%
|
| |
8
|
9.9%
|
| |
9
|
14.6%
|
Reinsurance Savings
Since 2020, the reinsurance program has reduced premiums for Coloradans. The approved premium rate filings show that the program will save Coloradans nearly $470 million on their premiums this upcoming plan year. The reinsurance program reimburses at different levels in different parts of the state with a three-tiered structure designed to provide more assistance to the rural and mountain areas that have higher health care costs and higher health insurance premiums than other areas. This spreads risk across the Colorado health insurance market, reducing the impact of high-cost claims. Reinsurance thereby lowers premiums for individuals and makes it easier for people to afford coverage.
The following table shows the percentage saved on premiums by rating area from the reinsurance program:
|
Rating Area
|
Reinsurance Rate Impact
|
|
Area 1 - Boulder MSA
|
12.5%
|
|
Area 2 - Colorado Springs MSA
|
13.5%
|
|
Area 3 - Denver MSA
|
13.9%
|
|
Area 4 - Fort Collins MSA
|
17.9%
|
|
Area 5 - Grand Junction MSA
|
31.5%
|
|
Area 6 - Greeley MSA
|
21.0%
|
|
Area 7 - Pueblo MSA
|
10.8%
|
|
Area 8 - East Non-MSA
|
16.3%
|
|
Area 9 - West Non-MSA
|
31.5%
|
|
Total - Statewide
|
17.1%
|
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|
