Colorado Division of Insurance
01/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/23/2025 16:41
Governor Polis, Lt. Governor Primavera, and Colorado Division of Insurance Announce Record 2025 Colorado Option Enrollment Numbers
Media Contacts:
DOI - Vincent Plymell
[email protected]
Governor's Office - Ally Sullivan
[email protected]
Colorado Option enrollments account for nearly half of Connect for Health Colorado's open enrollment activity.
DENVER - Today, Governor Polis, Lt. Governor Primavera, and the Division of Insurance announced historic enrollment rates in Colorado's nation-leading Colorado Option, with 132,791 people enrolling in the Colorado Option during the open enrollment period that just concluded, representing 47% of all selections for 2025 on Connect for Health Colorado.
"Since day one we have been focused on saving Coloradans money on their health care and our nation-leading priorities are delivering real savings for those who buy their own insurance in the exchange. There is a lot more work ahead to provide better health insurance at a lower price for more Coloradans. These historic numbers of enrollment in Colorado Option are an important part of our work to save Coloradans more money on health care," said Governor Jared Polis.
The market share of Colorado Option enrollment within Connect for Health Colorado has climbed steadily. In its first year, 2023, Colorado Option enrollment made up 13.7% of selections on Connect for Health. In 2024, that share jumped to 34%, and now for 2025, 47%, as Colorado Option enrollments accounted for nearly half of the of the overall 282,483 people that enrolled through Connect for Health Colorado. Connect for Health Colorado is the state's health exchange for people buying individual market insurance (meaning insurance that an employer does not provide).
"The Colorado Option is a game-changer for hardworking families across our state, ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care," said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera and Director of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care."As someone who has spent decades advocating for improved health care access, I'm thrilled to see the success of this program and its ability to save Coloradans money while prioritizing essential care like mental health services, primary care, and prescriptions. This milestone enrollment shows we are making meaningful progress toward our vision of a healthier, more equitable Colorado."
"Numbers like this - nearly half of the market - show that if you build a quality, affordable insurance plan, people will enroll. Not only were Colorado Option premiums the lowest or the second lowest in almost all counties throughout the state, but behind the scenes the DOI team worked diligently to attack the health care costs that drive up premiums, working to ensure that insurers and hospitals came to the table and negotiated lower rates," said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Conway. "Now we need Congress to act to extend the enhanced subsidies that help make insurance affordable for Coloradans. If Congress fails to do that, health insurance premiums will spike for the vast majority of Coloradans enrolled in the individual market."
Research from Brown University's School of Public Healthhas shown that adding Colorado Option plans to the individual insurance market has reduced premiums, for Colorado Option plans, and the entire market, including non-Option plans. The findings point to the potential for public option plans to offer more affordable premium options for people enrolled in the individual market.
The Colorado Optionwas enacted through HB21-1232, which was signed into law by Governor Polis in June 2021. The law sponsored by Rep. Dylan Roberts, Rep. Iman Jodeh, and Senator Kerry Donovan, tasked the Colorado Division of Insurance with developing the standard benefits through stakeholder engagement for the Colorado Option plans that the health insurance companies sell. The Division created these standard benefits after a lengthy stakeholder process. Stakeholders said they wanted health insurance that made prices easier to understand, while reducing what people paid when getting medical care, especially for care that is of high value, like primary care and mental health, as well as prescriptions and labs.
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About the Division of Insurance:
The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), regulates the insurance industry and assists consumers and other stakeholders with insurance issues. Visit doi.colorado.gov for more information or call 303-894-7499 / toll free 800-930-3745.
About DORA:
DORA is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business environment in Colorado. Consumer protection is our mission. Visit dora.colorado.gov for more information or call 303-894-7855 / toll free 800-886-7675.