Anthem, Rocky Mountain Health reverse plans to pull back coverage in Colorado

Two major health insurers in Colorado — Anthem and Rocky Mountain Health Plans — have reversed their plans to withdraw from several counties next year.

The withdrawals would have affected only people who don't get coverage through a job and instead buy it on their own. Anthem's and Rocky's decisions to remain in those counties — which were mostly along the Front Range — came after the state legislature made new funding available during the recent special session to address what are expected to be steep price increases.

Michael Conway, Colorado's insurance commissioner, said in a statement that bills passed during the special session "helped ensure that both Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem have decided to pull back the discontinuances they initially filed."

"I appreciate their partnership during this difficult year, along with the other carriers in the market," Conway said.

The two insurers filed notices last month with state insurance regulators saying they intended to pull coverage from 16 counties. Had they gone through with it, as many as 96,000 people could have been forced to look for new insurance for 2026. The notices were filed as state regulators scrutinized insurers' proposed prices for next year.

The decision to backtrack was not unexpected. On a website Anthem created shortly after filing the notices, the insurer wrote that it wanted "to continue to offer an individual health plan in every county in the state."

"If financially sustainable rates for Anthem's individual health benefit plans are approved, we will not have to discontinue any health plans," the company wrote.

In a statement Tuesday, Anthem spokesperson Emily Snooks wrote: "Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to Colorado and will continue offering an individual health plan in every county in 2026. We value our partnership with the Division of Insurance and our shared commitment to offering rates that ensure all Coloradans have continued access to high-quality health care."

State regulators are expected to announce final 2026 insurance prices in the coming weeks. Open enrollment for those who buy coverage on their own begins Nov. 1.