Cheapest Health Insurance in Colorado: Affordable Plans for 2026

Kaiser Permanente has the cheapest health insurance in Colorado, with an average monthly premium of $599, $55 below the state average. Denver Health Medical Plan and Select Health also cost less than average, at $626 and $649 per month. UnitedHealthcare has the highest average premium among major Colorado insurers at $734 per month, or $960 more per year than the state average.

* Rates shown are based on the rounded average of each provider's monthly plan rates in Colorado. Average savings show how much cheaper each provider is compared to the statewide average. Your actual rates will vary based on age, location and chosen plan.

Use the filters below to compare the most affordable health insurance plans in Colorado:

Kaiser Permanente has the cheapest HMO plans in Colorado at the Bronze and Silver levels, averaging $435 and $542 per month for a 40-year-old. Anthem wins at the Gold level at $511 per month, with a lower deductible and out-of-pocket maximum than Kaiser's Silver tier. There are no Platinum HMO plans available in Colorado.

HMOs limit coverage to a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You'll choose a primary care physician who coordinates your care and refers you to in-network specialists. Out-of-network care isn't covered except in emergencies.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

Select Health is the most affordable EPO health insurance provider in Colorado at every metal level in our analysis, averaging $426 per month for Bronze, $589 for Silver and $566 for Gold plans. Although the Gold plan has a higher deductible than Silver ($4,400 vs. $3,600), its out-of-pocket maximum is $1,388 lower, which is a better value for people who expect high medical expenses.

EPO plans restrict coverage to an insurer’s provider network but, unlike HMOs, they don’t require a primary care doctor or referrals to see specialists. This allows you to visit any in-network specialist directly.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

The cheapest health insurance in Colorado ranges from $295 per month at age 18 to $905 at age 60, with the lowest-cost carrier and plan type changing by age. Colorado residents under 30 can buy Kaiser Permanente Catastrophic plans, which have the lowest premiums but a $10,600 deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Starting at age 40, Select Health’s Bronze EPO is the cheapest option, costing $426 per month at 40 and rising to $905 at 60. Catastrophic plans are limited to people under 30 and those who qualify for a hardship exemption.

HSA-eligible plans combine lower premiums with a health savings account, allowing you to set aside pretax money for qualified medical expenses. Denver Health Medical Plan has the cheapest HMO option at $452 per month, followed by Cigna Healthcare’s Bronze EPO at $503. 

Both have high deductibles of $6,950 and $6,500, respectively. They’re best suited to healthy shoppers who expect limited medical care and want the tax benefits of an HSA. If you need regular healthcare, a higher-premium plan with a lower deductible may cost less overall.

* Rates shown are statewide averages for 40-year-olds.

We compared Colorado plans for a 40-year-old using three levels of annual medical expenses before insurance payments: $1,000 for low usage, $5,000 for moderate usage and $20,000 for high usage. We rounded each monthly premium to the nearest dollar and multiplied it by 12 to calculate annual premiums.

Estimated out-of-pocket costs assume the member pays covered expenses up to the deductible and 20% coinsurance afterward, capped at the plan’s MOOP limit. We added this amount to annual premiums and selected the plan with the lowest estimated total annual cost for each usage level. Actual costs will vary based on copays, coinsurance, covered services and negotiated network rates.

Colorado residents can lower their monthly premiums through the state's Connect for Health Colorado exchange and income-based subsidies. Bronze and Silver tiers from insurers, such as Kaiser Permanente, Anthem and Select Health cost the least monthly. Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) cover qualifying low-income households at little to no cost.

We analyzed rate data from Connect for Health Colorado, the state's official health insurance marketplace, to identify which insurers have the lowest premiums for different plan types and demographics.

Our Analysis Approach

We collected plan data for consumers aged 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60 to cover the full age spectrum from teens through pre-Medicare seniors. We ranked providers by their average monthly premiums for 40-year-olds as our baseline "cheapest overall" category, since this age reflects California's median health insurance consumer and provides the most relevant comparison for most shoppers.