Colorado open enrollment 2027 Open enrollment · Colorado

Colorado Open Enrollment 2027 for Self-Employed

Last updated November 3, 2026 · By Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker

Short answer

For self-employed people and 1099 contractors in Colorado, Connect for Health Colorado sets the 2027 open enrollment dates; check its site for this year's deadlines. A private, medically underwritten plan does not wait for the window: if approved, it can start the first of any month, which suits income that never arrives on a schedule.

What 2027 looks like for you

Colorado's average 2027 rate change is 10% to 12.8% (finalized). The details are on the Colorado 2027 premium increase page.

The subsidy line for 2027 sits at 400% of the federal poverty level: $63,840 for one person and $86,560 for two. For self-employed people the income that counts is net business income after expenses, plus any other household income, and a strong fourth quarter can carry you over the line. Starting with tax year 2026 there is no cap on repaying excess advance credit, so estimate carefully. General information, not tax advice — confirm with your CPA based on your specific entity structure.

Colorado this year

Colorado's finalized 2027 increase comes in at roughly 10 to 13 percent, below the national average, thanks in part to the state's reinsurance program and rules that have pressured insurers to hold prices down. Coloradans shop through Connect for Health Colorado rather than HealthCare.gov, and that exchange decides the enrollment calendar, so check its schedule. Location matters enormously here. A Boulder software contractor, a Weld County oil and gas hand and a ski-town seasonal worker can see completely different plan lineups, and mountain resort counties have long carried some of the steepest premiums in the nation.

Work I see most often among Colorado's self-employed buyers: software and creative freelancers in Denver and Boulder, ski-town and outdoor-recreation seasonal workers, construction trades along the Front Range, real estate agents, oil and gas contractors in Weld County, and ranching families on the Eastern Plains.

One thing to do before you choose

If you live in a mountain resort county, pull quotes for your exact ZIP code instead of trusting a Denver figure. Then compare those exchange plans with a private, medically underwritten option. Those plans live outside Connect for Health Colorado, approval hinges on your medical answers, and what each one covers differs, but for a healthy single contractor earning above $63,840 they can be worth a look. I quote both side by side over the phone or video.

Your checklist

Your Colorado renewal notice and its 2027 price
A net income estimate with a cushion
Doctors and prescriptions in each network
A private quote if you are healthy and near the line

Private plan or Marketplace?

Private plan

Healthy and above the line: priced on age, ZIP code and health, not income. Approval depends on health answers; not an ACA Marketplace plan.

Marketplace

A health condition or income under the line: Connect for Health Colorado must accept you, and the subsidy may make it the better value.

Compare Colorado plans this open enrollment

Private plans priced first, the Marketplace alongside when it fits. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee.

Get a quote Book a call (786) 218-2384

About your broker

Frank Caballero (NPN 21032307), licensed in 31 states including Colorado. Phone or video, English or Spanish, no fee; independent, not HealthCare.gov or any government agency.

Questions

Who sets Colorado's 2027 open enrollment deadline?

Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado's own exchange. Check its site for this year's dates before you plan around them.

Can I buy a short-term plan in Colorado between seasonal gigs?

Not in any practical way. Colorado law sets standards for traditional short-term plans that no insurer sells to. The realistic choices are an exchange plan through Connect for Health Colorado or medically underwritten private coverage, a separate product that requires passing a health review and is never sold through the exchange.

Can I get a private plan in Colorado after open enrollment closes?

Yes. You can apply in any month and, if approved, a private plan can start the first of a month; the insurer can decline based on health answers.

More for Colorado

Official source: Connect for Health Colorado. FC Insurance Solutions is an independent, licensed brokerage and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Written by Frank Caballero, licensed health insurance broker in Colorado and 30 other states, NPN 21032307. Last updated November 3, 2026.