The Cigna marketplace exit in Colorado leaves about 35,000 customers needing a new plan by December 15 to keep coverage in 2027. Colorado officials and Connect for Health Colorado are preparing outreach to help customers switch before Cigna coverage ends December 31, 2026. According to 9NEWS Denver, the outreach was being prepared over the weekend.
The change applies to Cigna individual-market medical plans in Colorado, not every Cigna product or employer plan. Current coverage remains active through December 31, but affected customers need to actively select a replacement plan for 2027. There is no automatic transfer to another insurer.
The December 15 Deadline, Step by Step
The Connect for Health Colorado 2027 open enrollment announcement sets the enrollment dates and coverage start dates below.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Open enrollment opens. |
| December 15, 2026 | Last day to enroll for coverage beginning January 1, 2027. |
| December 16, 2026–January 15, 2027 | Enrollments during this period begin coverage February 1, 2027. |
| December 31, 2026 | Current Cigna coverage ends. |
| January 1, 2027 | A replacement plan selected by the December 15 deadline should be active. |
There is no automatic continuation: because Cigna is exiting Colorado’s individual market, its customers will not be automatically renewed or reassigned into a 2027 plan. Enrolling after December 15 during open enrollment means coverage is scheduled to begin February 1, leaving January outside the new plan’s coverage period.
The December 15 date is therefore the key deadline for customers who need replacement coverage to start on January 1. Confirm the effective date on the selected plan’s enrollment confirmation and retain the confirmation for reference.
What the 2027 Colorado Market Looks Like After Cigna
Six carriers are offering individual medical plans for 2027: Anthem, Colorado Access Choice by Access Connected Care Partners, Elevate Health Plans by Denver Health, Kaiser Permanente, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and Select Health. Colorado Access is entering the market and offering plans in 14 counties. Plan availability and provider networks vary by location, so the statewide carrier list does not establish which options are available in a particular county.
The Colorado Division of Insurance reports an average 10% increase in individual-market premiums for 2027, compared with a 15% national median. The state’s reinsurance program is expected to reduce premiums by 17.1% statewide. The division also reports that Colorado Premium Assistance is expected to hold the estimated net premium increase to about $20 per month for financially assisted customers, compared with $69 per month without that assistance. These are market-level estimates, not a guarantee of an individual household’s price. The Division of Insurance’s final 2027 rate announcement provides the state rate and assistance details.
Colorado Option plans are also available. According to Connect for Health Colorado, these plans include $0 visits for specified services, including checkups, screenings, immunizations, maternity care, and behavioral or mental health care. Availability, covered services, and other plan terms should be confirmed in the plan documents before enrollment.
Five Steps for Cigna Customers Before December 15
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Confirm the current plan’s end date. Check the Cigna plan documents or contact the insurer to confirm coverage ends December 31, 2026. When reviewing the replacement plan, confirm that its effective date is January 1, 2027, and keep enrollment records to help prevent billing confusion.
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Do not wait for automatic renewal. Cigna’s exit means there is no Cigna individual-market plan for 2027 to renew into. Colorado will not reassign customers leaving Cigna into replacement coverage. A new plan selection is required to establish coverage with another carrier.
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Compare provider networks and prescriptions. Check whether current doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and prescribed medications are included in each plan’s network and formulary. Premium alone does not show whether a plan covers the providers or medications a household uses. Verify these details against the insurer’s current plan information before selecting coverage.
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Review Colorado Option plans. These plans include $0 visits for specified services, including primary care for checkups and behavioral or mental health care. Confirm the applicable services and plan details for the available options in the customer’s county.
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Check financial help before comparing final prices. Connect for Health Colorado says 69% of its customers are likely to qualify for financial assistance. Among customers receiving help, about 60% could find a plan for $10 per month or less, and three in four could find one for $75 per month or less. These figures describe potential availability, not a price commitment for a specific household. Federal Advance Premium Tax Credits and Colorado Premium Assistance continue for 2027 for eligible customers. Readers comparing Marketplace plans and subsidies can also find ACA plan guidance at GetACA.com{rel="sponsored"}.
A monthly premium is only one comparison point. Review the plan’s deductible, covered services, provider network, prescription coverage, and other cost-sharing terms. The Summary of Benefits and Coverage and insurer materials provide plan-specific information. Final prices and financial assistance depend on individual eligibility and plan selection.
Not in Colorado? Cigna Is Leaving 11 States
The Colorado change is part of a broader Cigna individual-market exit. KFF’s 2027 insurer participation tracker reports that Cigna is exiting the individual market in all 11 states where it currently participates, both on and off the exchange. The listed states include Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Indiana. Cigna reported more than 350,000 on-exchange enrollees in the first quarter of 2026.
KFF also reports that 11 carriers have announced marketplace exits for 2027, while seven have announced entry into new state marketplaces. The changes follow the end of enhanced federal premium tax credits after 2025; marketplace sign-ups fell by more than one million from the 2025 to 2026 open enrollment periods.
For people affected outside Colorado, the procedure depends on the state and the plan. Identify the state’s enrollment window, check the exiting insurer’s coverage end date, and select a replacement plan before the applicable deadline. Confirm provider and prescription coverage and review any eligibility for financial assistance through the state marketplace or HealthCare.gov.
In Colorado, Connect for Health Colorado provides a free network of certified assisters and licensed brokers. More than 187,000 customers enrolled with help from an assister or broker during the 2026 plan-year open enrollment period. Colorado brokers must hold an active state insurance license. People checking a broker’s credentials can use VerifiedAgent’s Colorado directory and can also confirm a producer’s status through the Colorado Division of Insurance or an official license lookup before sharing personal information. Checking credentials is a routine verification step during enrollment.
The deadline that matters for January 1, 2027 coverage is December 15. Selecting a replacement plan early leaves time to compare provider networks, prescription coverage, and available financial help. Plan availability and individual eligibility should be confirmed with Connect for Health Colorado or the insurer before enrollment.
Excerpt: cigna marketplace customers in Colorado must choose 2027 coverage by December 15. Compare dates, networks, prescriptions, and available financial help.