Open Enrollment Dates for 2018 Colorado Health Insurance Coverage Set: Nov. 1, 2017 to Jan. 12, 2018

DENVER, June 22 -- The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies issued the following news release:

The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), announced today that it intends to modify the next open enrollment period for individual health insurance coverage beyond the deadline that will be used in states with a federal health insurance marketplace. The state's open enrollment period for 2018 will begin on November 1, 2017 and end on January 12, 2018, for Coloradans buying their own health insurance for 2018.

In states that use Healthcare.gov as their health insurance exchange, the federal government has set December 15, 2017, as the end date for open enrollment. Because Colorado has its own exchange -- Connect for Health Colorado(R) -- the state has some flexibility to set open enrollment period dates. In previous years, Open Enrollment Periods have run from November through February.

"Our consistent approach this year is to be as flexible as possible and do everything within our power to ensure consumers have a viable health insurance market for the 2018 plan year. To that end, we want to make sure consumers have adequate time to plan and shop for their health insurance needs," said Colorado Insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar. "While this year's open enrollment is shorter than in years past, in consultation with Connect for Health Colorado, we determined that this gradual approach to reducing the open enrollment period will be better for Colorado consumers."

"This 10-week period balances the interest of our stakeholders and will give our customers time to renew their coverage or buy a new policy," said Kevin Patterson, Chief Executive Officer for Connect for Health Colorado. "The end of the year is a busy time for most of us and we want to provide our customers a smooth transition to the shortened enrollment period."

The Division will notify insurance carriers of these dates as the enrollment period applies to all health insurance carriers in the state offering individual health insurance coverage, whether they sell through Connect for Health or off the exchange.

These dates apply to individual health insurance coverage enrollment. Employers that offer health insurance may require different open enrollment dates.