The ACA extension that would bring back enhanced subsidies has not become law, so your 2027 Colorado premium will follow the rules in place today.
This guide explains where the extension stands, what it means for your Colorado premium, and which Colorado help is still available. I will also walk you through the dates that matter.
By the end, you will know how to shop for 2027 with confidence, whether or not Congress acts.
What Is the ACA Extension and Where Does It Stand?
The ACA extension is a proposal to bring back the enhanced premium tax credits that ended on December 31, 2025.
Those enhanced credits lowered premiums for millions of marketplace shoppers. Congress did not extend them before they expired, and the House passed a three-year extension in January 2026. No extension has become law.
Until that changes, the original ACA subsidy rules apply to 2027 plans.
That is why ACA subsidies 2027 Colorado shoppers can count on today are the ones written into current law, not the ones in the proposal.
What Happens to Your Colorado Premium Without the ACA Extension?
Without the ACA extension, two things change: how much you are expected to pay and who qualifies for help.
Under the original rules, you receive no federal credit if your income is above 400% of the federal poverty level. The Commonwealth Fund puts that line at $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. Below that line, the IRS sets what you are expected to contribute at between 2.15% and 10.22% of your income for 2027, per Rev. Proc. 2026-26.
Colorado premiums are also rising. The Colorado Division of Insurance announced that individual market premiums will rise about 10% on average for 2027.
Your own number depends on your income, age, county, and plan.
A household just under the 400% line may still see a large jump, because the credit shrinks as income rises. A household just over it loses the credit entirely.
Colorado Help That Continues Without the ACA Extension
Colorado has its own tools, and they do not depend on Congress.
Connect for Health Colorado says Colorado Premium Assistance, which lowered premiums for more than 176,000 customers, continues for 2027. The state’s reinsurance program also works to hold costs down.
Connect for Health Colorado reports that about 60% of customers who receive financial help could find a plan for $10 or less per month. It also says three in four could find a plan for $75 or less per month if they shop and compare.
Those programs are available only through Connect for Health Colorado, so shop there first.
Buying a marketplace plan outside the exchange means you give up both the federal credit and the state help.
How Colorado Premium Assistance Fits With Your Federal Credit
The state help and the federal credit work as two layers, not as rivals.
The federal credit is based on your income and the cost of a benchmark plan in your area. Colorado Premium Assistance then helps lower what you pay on top of that, for people who qualify.
You do not apply for each layer separately. Connect for Health Colorado calculates what you qualify for when you enter your household information.
That makes one honest income estimate the most useful step you can take.
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Key Dates for 2027 Colorado Plans
Colorado’s enrollment dates give you a clear timeline to plan around.
- November 1, 2026: Open enrollment begins.
- December 15, 2026: Enroll by this date for a plan that starts January 1, 2027.
- January 15, 2027: Open enrollment ends. Enroll from December 16 through this date for a February 1, 2027 start.
You can also preview 2027 plans and prices with the Estimate & Explore tool before enrollment opens.
Missing December 15 does not end your options, but it delays the start of your plan by a month. A gap in your plan can leave you paying a full bill out of pocket, so mark the date on your calendar.
What to Do While Congress Debates the ACA Extension
You can plan for 2027 now without waiting for Washington.
- Update your income estimate honestly. Advance credits are reconciled on your tax return, so an accurate estimate protects you from owing money back.
- Window-shop first. Use Estimate & Explore to compare 2027 plans and prices.
- Look at Bronze plans. Bronze and catastrophic plans are automatically HSA-eligible, so a lower premium can come with tax-free HSA savings.
- Check your carrier. Cigna is leaving Colorado’s individual market for 2027, so affected members need a new plan.
- Enroll by December 15. That date gives you a January 1 start.
If Congress acts later, you can adjust, but a plan in place protects you in the meantime. Review your options again if the law changes before your plan year begins.
If Your Income Is Close to the 400% Line
The 400% line is a cliff, not a slope, so small income changes can matter a lot.
One dollar over the line removes the federal credit entirely, which can add thousands of dollars to your yearly cost. For a single Coloradan, that line sits at $63,840, so a raise, a bonus, or a side job can push you across it. If you are near it, check your income estimate carefully and ask whether pre-tax HSA contributions made with an HSA-eligible plan could lower your countable income.
A short conversation with a tax professional is worth it if you are close.
They can confirm which items count toward your modified adjusted gross income and which do not.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the ACA extension?
A: It is a proposal to restore the enhanced premium tax credits that expired on December 31, 2025.
The House passed a three-year version in January 2026, but no extension has become law. Check the news before you enroll, and keep your plan choice flexible.
Q: Will ACA subsidies return for 2027?
A: Whether ACA subsidies will return for 2027 in Colorado is not settled.
Plan as if the original rules apply, because they do until Congress changes them. Shop now, and revisit your plan if the law changes before enrollment ends. Nobody can promise a different outcome.
Q: When is open enrollment for 2027 plans in Colorado?
A: Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027.
Enroll by December 15 for a January 1 start. Enroll from December 16 through January 15 for a February 1 start, which leaves one month without a plan. Mark both dates on your calendar.
Q: Can I still get financial help in Colorado without the ACA extension?
A: Yes. Federal premium tax credits still exist under the original rules, and Colorado Premium Assistance continues for 2027.
Both are available only through Connect for Health Colorado, so compare plans there and enter your income estimate to see your real price.
Leslie Alford is a Personal Benefits Manager at ColoHealth. Her aim is to help you make smart and informed healthcare coverage decisions that will fit your needs and budget. Read more about Leslie on her Bio page.
