The discontinuance filings from the two insurers are projected to affect 96,000 Coloradans
DENVER - The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), today announced that Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem’s HMO Colorado have filed plans to end coverage for multiple health insurance plans in the individual market. It is projected that 96,000 Coloradans will be affected by the discontinued plans and will need to shop for new coverage during the upcoming Open Enrollment, which begins November 1. Despite the discontinuance notices, all counties in Colorado will still have plans available in the individual market.
“I don’t know how we can ring alarm bells any louder. Coloradans need support,” said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “We need our elected leaders at the General Assembly and federal level to help. We will do everything possible to stabilize the market, but without that assistance, hardworking people are going to receive devastatingly high rate increases and more than a hundred thousand people will lose coverage as a result.”
A discontinuance can include removing a plan altogether or changing the locations in which a plan is offered. By law, insurance carriers must provide 135 days’ notice to DOI before discontinuing plans. The deadline for plans effective January 1, 2026 was yesterday, August 19. Consumers who have an impacted plan will receive a notice at least 90 days in advance of the discontinuance.
Federal uncertainty has resulted in significant negative impacts to the individual market. Approximately 300,000 Coloradans are enrolled in individual market plans. Due to the U.S. Congress’s decision not to extend enhanced premium tax credits for the individual market, which help keep costs affordable for families, it is projected that 100,000 people in Colorado’s individual market will lose coverage. For Coloradans who remain enrolled, the average net rate increase for the majority of consumers will be more than 100%, and for many, will approach 200%.
There is still an opportunity for Congress to act and extend the enhanced premium tax credits. There is also an opportunity for the Colorado General Assembly to pass legislation in the special session starting tomorrow to provide funding to the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise, which helps keep costs down for individual market plans.
Rocky Mountain HMO filed to withdraw plans from certain counties. It will still provide plans in the individual market, but it will no longer offer 20 plans across 7 counties. All plans being removed are in rating area 3, which is the Denver Metro area. The discontinuances will affect 26,000 Coloradans.
HMO Colorado filed to both discontinue plans and withdraw plans from certain counties. Their discontinuance filing announced plans to remove 21 plans impacting 11 counties and 32,000 members. In addition, it plans to no longer offer 41 plans in certain counties, impacting 37,000 members. These changes will result in ending coverage for almost 70,000 members (which is two thirds of its current enrollment).
Impacted Counties