Skip to main content

Open Enrollment Season: Review Before You Renew

Written on . Posted in General.

Why is open enrollment important?

It’s important to check that your health insurance plan still covers everything you need, as insurance companies often change their plans from year to year, and your healthcare needs could have changed too. While the best plan for you and your family might be the same as last year, there could be options with better coverage, lower premiums, or more preferred providers. When reviewing your coverage during open enrollment, there are specific things that you will want to look for:

  • Are your current providers covered? (A good way to verify this is to speak directly to the billing department at your provider’s office and verify that your specific plan is accepted AND check the insurance carrier’s provider network.) 
  • Are all of your current medications covered? (And will they still be covered next year?)
  • Are you anticipating any upcoming procedures or tests? (If so, be sure to check the copays, co-insurance, and cost-sharing rates for those on your plan.) 
  • Does your insurance plan follow Colorado consumer protection laws? (learn more about these laws here)

Is open enrollment the only time I can enroll, renew, or change my health insurance plan? 

You can apply for Medicaid or the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) plans at any point in the year. However, open enrollment is the only time you can enroll, renew, or change private health insurance plans (from Connect for Health Colorado) unless you qualify for a special enrollment period (more on this in the Connect for Health Colorado section). 

What are my options?

Employer-sponsored health insurance

Many Coloradans have access to health insurance through their employer and choose to utilize that. Open enrollment is the time for those individuals to check the specifics of their plan and ensure it still meets their needs. 

Connect for Health Colorado (Colorado’s health insurance marketplace)

If you do not have access to employer-sponsored health insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, you might be looking to purchase private health insurance on Connect for Health Colorado. 

Open enrollment, which runs from November 1 through January 15, is the only time you can enroll, change, or renew your Connect for Health plan unless you qualify for a special enrollment period due to a recent life event. You may qualify for a special enrollment period if you have experienced certain events, such as losing health coverage, moving, marriage, having a baby, adopting a child, or if your household income is below a certain threshold. 

Connect for Health Colorado is also the only place where an individual can receive financial help to cover the costs of health insurance. They offer free resources, such as expert navigators and brokers, and if you get your health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, please check out their plan finder tool to find the plan that best fits your needs!

Health First Colorado, Cover All Coloradans, and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) (Colorado Medicaid Programs)

The enrollment period is open year-round for Health First Colorado, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), and Cover All Coloradans. These plans offer coverage for physical health care (such as prenatal and postpartum care), dental, vision, and behavioral health services. If you think you might be eligible, you can apply at any time. More information about Health First Colorado can be found here, and application assistance is available both in person at your county’s Department of Human Services or at a local application assistance site.

Through the Cover All Coloradans law, children (18 and younger) and people who are pregnant or have given birth in the past 12 months (regardless of their immigration status) may be eligible for CHP+. To qualify, applicants must meet the age or pregnancy requirements, live in Colorado, and have a household income under 260% of the Federal Poverty Level but above the income requirements for Medicaid.

To apply for any of these programs, call 800-221-3943 or print and mail a paper application, available here. A list of what you need to apply can also be found on the Health First Colorado website.

Omnisalud

Open enrollment for OmniSalud, Colorado’s health coverage program for people without legal immigration status, provides an opportunity to get affordable insurance with financial assistance for those who meet income requirements and live in Colorado. Individuals who qualify for Medicaid are not eligible for OmniSalud. Privacy is protected—no questions are asked about immigration status, and personal information is not shared with immigration enforcement. Coverage runs from January 1 through December 31 each year. Current members have their spots reserved during the first weeks of November, after which new participants can enroll for any remaining spots. Financial assistance is limited, so early enrollment is encouraged. You can sign up by mid-December for coverage starting in January or by mid-January for coverage beginning in February. To find help with enrolling, visit Connect for Health Colorado or call the Colorado Connect Service Center at 855-675-2626. OmniSalud plans are offered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Denver Health, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Select Health, and Kaiser Permanente.

Medicare

Open enrollment for Medicare runs from October 15th through December 7th. This includes regular Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and Prescription Drug Part D plans. If you are looking for assistance with Medicare open enrollment, Benefits in Action’s Medicare Navigators are a great resource! To talk to a Medicare Navigator, call 720-221-8354 or email info@benefitsinaction.org. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIP) is also an excellent resource during Medicare open enrollment for more information. SHIP provides one-on-one assistance reviewing Medicare plans, information about Medicare assistance programs, assistance understanding eligibility guidelines, and answers Medicare coverage questions. To access SHIP in Colorado, go to this website or call (888) 696-7213. Another helpful nonprofit resource is the Colorado Gerontological Society, which offers free Medicare open enrollment virtual sessions, individual Medicare counselors, and videos regarding how to pick the best plan and what is new for 2026 plans.