Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Division of Insurance 

The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), released preliminary information on 2026 small group market private health insurance plans. 

Five insurance companies — Anthem’s Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Services, Kaiser Foundation of Colorado, Kaiser Permanente, United Healthcare Insurance Company, and United Healthcare of Colorado — plan to offer 383 plans across the state for 2026. 

Health insurance companies are asking the division to approve, on average, 13.6 percent higher premiums for Coloradans in 2026. These requested rate increases impact approximately 172,000 Coloradans.

The definition of a small employer for health-insurance coverage purposes is shifting from an employer employing one to 100 employees to an employer employing one to 50 employees on average in a calendar year. This change has been made in accordance with Senate Bill 24-073.

“The requested premium increases for plan year 2026 will put employers in the position of making difficult decisions on how to pay for health insurance for their employees,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “Once again, this year it will be important for employers to shop for the best option available for their employees as there may very well be more affordable options in the market. And we will continue to work to ensure that the rates we approve are appropriate and justified.”

Average requested rate increase by insurance company

The average requested rate increase by insurance company:

• Kaiser Foundation of Colorado: 7.8 percent.

• Kaiser Permanente: 3.6 percent.

• Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Services (Anthem): 14.5 percent.

• United Healthcare of Colorado: 15.5 percent.

• United Healthcare Insurance Company: 16.7 percent.

• Total: 13.6 percent.

Average requested rate increase by rating area

The average requested increase for the West-Mountain Region is 14.9 percent. 

Here is how the requested premium increases will hit consumers’ wallets in the western region of the state in 2026:

• Age: 21.

2026 average requested silver plan monthly premium: $715.96. 

Requested premium increase: 17.2 percent.

Annual increase in premium: $1,263.95.

• Age: 45.

2026 average requested silver plan monthly premium: $1,033.85. 

Requested premium increase: 17.2 percent.

Annual increase in premium: $1,825.15.

• Age: 60.

2026 average requested silver plan monthly premium: $1,943.13. 

Requested premium increase: 17.2 percent.

Annual increase in premium: $3,430.37.

Small employer definition size analysis

SB24-073 changed the definition of a small group employer from “no more than one hundred (100) eligible employees” to “no more than fifty (50) eligible employees” pursuant to an evaluation by the division. 

The law required the division to evaluate whether the small group market eligibility change would result in an additional rate increase of more than 3 percent. If that was the case, the small group market eligibility change would be repealed and the small group market would remain at employers with one to 100 employees. 

The division’s analysis showed that the impact of the small group market eligibility change was an additional 0.8 percent increase in premiums, allowing the change to move forward. 

Employers with 51-100 employees have up to five years to make the switch to the large group market. Those employers should contact their insurance agents to understand the options available to them.

Market change for 2026

Anthem’s HMO Colorado has informed the DOI that it will discontinue its small group products effective Jan. 1, 2026. HMO Colorado’s enrollment had been steadily declining and its decision impacts less than 0.9 percent of Coloradans enrolled in the small group market. 

Anthem will continue to offer small group health benefit options in every county across the state through Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Services.

Access to filings

The small group plans and requested premiums from the insurance companies, also called filings, are accessible at the DOI’s “Insurance Plan Filings & Approved Plans” website. 

A step-by-step guide on accessing insurance filings and submitting comments can be found here. 

The DOI will accept comments on small group market filings through Aug. 12.