When we reviewed Colorado's 2026 Plans, we found Kaiser Permanente as the cheapest health insurance provider at $599 per month. But it sells HMO plans only. Denver Health Medical Plan and Select Health both charge under $650 monthly. If your doctor isn't in Kaiser's network, the $51 monthly difference with Select Health costs less than paying out-of-pocket.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Colorado: Affordable Plans for 2026
Updated: July 3, 2026
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Key Takeaways
Kaiser Permanente is Colorado's most affordable health insurance provider, with an average monthly premium of $599.
Kaiser Permanente offers the cheapest rates for teens, young adults, adults, seniors and HMO plans. Select Health has the lowest EPO and Bronze plan rates, and Anthem provides the most affordable Gold coverage.
Compare at least three insurers during Open Enrollment to find affordable coverage. Spending 30 minutes comparing plans can save you hundreds annually.
Most Affordable Health Insurance Companies in Colorado
| Kaiser Permanente | $599 | $50 | $7,188 | $600 |
| Denver Health Medical Plan Inc. | $626 | $23 | $7,512 | $276 |
| Select Health | $649 | $0 | $7,788 | $0 |
| Anthem | $654 | $5 | $7,848 | $60 |
| Cigna Healthcare | $662 | $13 | $7,944 | $156 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $734 | $85 | $8,808 | $1,020 |
*We calculate average monthly rates by taking the rounded average of each provider’s monthly plan rates in Colorado. We calculate average monthly savings by subtracting the statewide average monthly rate from each provider’s average to show how much cheaper they are than the overall state average. Your actual rates will vary based on age, location and chosen plan.
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
Cigna Healthcare will leave Colorado's marketplace after the 2026 plan year, according to the Colorado Division of Insurance. If you are enrolling in Cigna now, you should plan to switch carriers for 2027 and confirm that your doctors are in-network with an alternative before that transition. Colorado Access is joining the marketplace for 2027 in 14 counties. That replaces only part of the capacity Cigna's exit removes.
Kaiser Permanente
MoneyGeek Rating
4.7/ 5
5/5Affordability
5/5Deductible
3.4/5MOOP
Avg. Monthly Rate
$599Avg. MOOP
$8,140Avg. Deductible
$4,781
Cheapest Colorado Health Insurance Providers By Profile
Kaiser Permanente sells the cheapest plans for every age group except EPO, where Select Health is cheapest. But a senior on Kaiser's Silver plan pays $1,151 monthly, nearly three times a teen's $387 rate, even though both carry the same $9,933 out-of-pocket maximum and $3,813 deductible.
Age, plan type and metal tier change your monthly premium in Colorado. Stack premiums against your deductible (what you pay first) and MOOP limit (your yearly spending cap) to find the best health insurance in the state.
| Teens | Kaiser Permanente | $387 | $4,647 | $9,933 | $3,813 |
| Young Adults | Kaiser Permanente | $434 | $5,212 | $9,933 | $3,813 |
| Adults | Kaiser Permanente | $542 | $6,504 | $9,933 | $3,813 |
| HMO | Kaiser Permanente | $542 | $6,504 | $9,933 | $3,813 |
| With Health Savings Account Eligibility | Kaiser Permanente | $549 | $6,587 | $7,500 | $3,800 |
| EPO | Select Health | $589 | $7,071 | $9,888 | $3,600 |
| Seniors | Kaiser Permanente | $1,151 | $13,813 | $9,933 | $3,813 |
* Rates shown are averages for silver-tier plans, using the following ages for each group: teens age 18, young adults age 26, adults age 40, seniors age 60. For plan type costs, we used average rates for 40-year-olds.
We found that Select Health's EPO plan costs $47 more monthly than Kaiser's HMO at the adult tier, $589 vs. $542. That premium buys a plan type with no required primary care referral, which matters for anyone who sees specialists regularly. Select Health also has the cheapest Bronze plan at $426 monthly, so if you are choosing the lowest-tier coverage, you should compare it directly against Kaiser before assuming Kaiser's lower overall average carries through every tier.
Cheapest Colorado Health Insurance By Metal Level
Select Health's $426 Bronze plan carries a $7,633 deductible against Gold's $2,050, a $5,583 difference. It takes more than five years to close this gap through the monthly premium alone, so Gold only wins in MoneyGeek's analysis for buyers who expect to reach their deductible most years.
| Bronze | Select Health | $426 | $5,114 | $10,400 | $7,633 |
| Gold | Anthem | $511 | $6,131 | $9,600 | $2,050 |
| Silver | Kaiser Permanente | $542 | $6,504 | $9,933 | $3,813 |
*Rates shown are the provider's average at the given metal tier for 40-year-olds.
Anthem's Gold plan also costs $31 less than Kaiser's $542 Silver plan. Anthem plans to stop selling coverage in 16 Colorado counties for 2027, concentrated around Denver, so confirm availability in your county before counting on this price for next year.
Compare Cheap Colorado Health Insurance Plans
Check the following table to discover the most affordable health insurance options in Colorado that match your needs:
Data filtered by:
EPO
Silver
18
No
| Select Health | Select Health Monument Value Silver $3400 Medical Deductible | $387 | EPO | Silver | $10,000 | $3,400 | 18 | No |
| Select Health | Select Health Value Silver $3400 Medical Deductible | $397 | EPO | Silver | $10,000 | $3,400 | 18 | No |
| Select Health | Select Health Monument Value Silver $1500 Medical Deductible | $402 | EPO | Silver | $10,150 | $1,500 | 18 | No |
| Select Health | Select Health Value Silver $1500 Medical Deductible | $412 | EPO | Silver | $10,150 | $1,500 | 18 | No |
| Cigna Healthcare | Cigna Connect Colorado Option Silver | $422 | EPO | Silver | $9,800 | $4,400 | 18 | No |
| Cigna Healthcare | Cigna Connect Flex Silver 6000 | $427 | EPO | Silver | $9,700 | $6,000 | 18 | No |
| Select Health | Select Health Monument Value Colorado Option Silver | $428 | EPO | Silver | $9,800 | $4,400 | 18 | No |
| Cigna Healthcare | Cigna Connect Flex Silver 3500 | $430 | EPO | Silver | $10,500 | $3,500 | 18 | No |
| Cigna Healthcare | Cigna Connect Flex Silver 4000 | $430 | EPO | Silver | $8,375 | $4,000 | 18 | No |
| Cigna Healthcare | Cigna Connect Flex Silver 2750 Rx Copay | $432 | EPO | Silver | $10,100 | $2,750 | 18 | No |
How to Find the Cheapest Health Insurance in Colorado
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.
- 1Choose a plan type within your budget
Your health circumstances and income determine which type of plan and metal tier work best. Calculate your monthly premium budget, assess your current health status and evaluate your injury or illness risk based on age, location and lifestyle.
- 2Check if you qualify for subsidies
Your household income and size determine eligibility for 2026 health insurance subsidies. Subsidies apply to incomes between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Lower incomes receive larger subsidies, with credit amounts decreasing as income rises.
- 3Explore Medicare options if you qualify
Medicare, Medicaid (Health First Colorado), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans cost less than marketplace coverage. Compare eligibility requirements and benefits for each program.
- 4Verify prescription coverage
Check which tier your medications fall under for each insurer. Some plans place common prescriptions on lower tiers with smaller copays, potentially saving you hundreds annually.
- 5Shop during Open Enrollment period
Open Enrollment is from November 1 to January 15 and gives you access to all six carriers. Special enrollment periods limit your choices to plans tied to a qualifying life event, such as job loss, marriage or having a baby. Compare coverage types, customer ratings, costs and whether your doctors accept the plan.
- 6Review Colorado-specific requirements
Colorado created Colorado Premium Assistance (CPA) for 2026, a new state-funded subsidy on top of federal tax credits. Eligible households get $80 off the primary applicant's premium and $29 off each additional household member's premium or enough to cover the remaining balance after federal credits, whichever is smaller. You don't need to apply separately. Connect for Health Colorado applies it automatically if you qualify.
Cheap Colorado Health Insurance: FAQ
We answer common questions about affordable health insurance in Colorado:
Kaiser Permanente offers the cheapest health insurance, with Silver plans starting at $542 monthly for 40-year-olds.
Cheap plans charge higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs when you need medical care. You'll pay less monthly but more when using services. Higher-premium plans cost more upfront but reduce what you pay for doctor visits, prescriptions and procedures.
Subsidies reduce monthly premiums through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado's health insurance marketplace. Enter your household income during enrollment to check eligibility.
Colorado's enrollment window is covered in the steps above. Outside that window, a qualifying life event like job loss, marriage or having a baby opens a Special Enrollment period.
How We Decided the Cheapest Health Insurance Companies in Colorado
Colorado offers hundreds of health insurance plans, and premiums vary by age. We analyzed rate data from Connect for Health Colorado, the state's health insurance marketplace, to identify which insurers offer the lowest premiums for different 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 Colorado's median health insurance consumer and provides the most relevant comparison for most shoppers.
For age-specific rankings (teens, young adults, adults, seniors), we used the corresponding ages listed above. This approach reveals which insurers offer the best rates for your specific age group, not just generic "cheapest" rankings that may not apply to you.
Important Cost Tradeoff
Bronze and Silver plans (the lowest monthly premiums) charge $3,400 to $7,633 deductibles and $9,700 to $10,400 maximum out-of-pocket costs. You'll save monthly but pay more when you need care. Compare premiums and potential out-of-pocket expenses based on your expected medical usage.
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About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.
Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.
Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.