Do You Have to Have Health Insurance in Colorado?

Is Health Insurance Legally Required in Colorado?

No, you don’t legally have to have health insurance in Colorado.

Colorado has no state-level insurance mandate. Unlike states like California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey that enforce their own requirements and penalties, Colorado doesn’t fine residents for being uninsured.

The federal individual mandate penalty was also eliminated in 2019. Before that, Americans without qualifying health coverage paid a tax penalty when filing their federal returns.

Today, you won’t face legal consequences for going without insurance in Colorado.

Why You Still Need Coverage (Even Without a Penalty)

Just because there’s no penalty doesn’t mean going uninsured is safe.

Here’s what happens when you don’t have health insurance in Colorado: you pay full price for everything. An emergency room visit for a broken arm can cost $2,500 or more. A three-day hospital stay averages $30,000. Cancer treatment can exceed $150,000.

Without insurance, these costs fall entirely on you. Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in America, affecting even middle-class families who thought they were financially stable.

Beyond emergency care, you’ll struggle to access routine preventive services. Most doctors require payment upfront from uninsured patients, making regular checkups, prescriptions, and screenings financially out of reach.

What Are Your Affordable Options in Colorado?

Most Colorado residents qualify for financial help with health insurance costs.

Connect for Health Colorado is the state’s health insurance marketplace. Through this exchange, you can shop for plans and determine if you qualify for premium tax credits that lower your monthly costs.

Health First Colorado (Medicaid) provides free or low-cost coverage to eligible residents. Colorado expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so income limits are higher than in many states.

Employer-sponsored coverage remains the most common option if your company offers benefits.

Medicare covers Coloradans 65 and older, plus certain younger individuals with disabilities.

Working with a licensed Colorado Personal Benefits Manager helps you navigate these options and find the most affordable plan for your situation.

When Can You Get Coverage?

You can’t buy health insurance anytime you want.

The annual Open Enrollment Period for Connect for Health Colorado typically runs from November through mid-January. Outside this window, you need a qualifying life event (like losing other coverage, moving, getting married, or having a baby) to enroll.

This makes staying continuously covered important. If you’re healthy now and skip insurance, you could face months without access to coverage if you later need it.

Common Questions Colorado Residents Ask

What if I’m young and healthy? Accidents and unexpected illnesses don’t discriminate by age. A skiing injury, car accident, or sudden diagnosis can happen to anyone.

What if I can’t afford it? Most Coloradans qualify for subsidies that significantly reduce costs. Some Bronze plans cost less than $100 per month after financial assistance.

Can I use alternative options? Short-term health plans and health sharing ministries exist but offer limited protection and don’t count as qualifying coverage for Special Enrollment Periods.