Non-ACA Health Insurance Options in Colorado (2026)
Not everyone in Colorado is best served by a Marketplace plan. Here are the non-ACA options available here, with an honest look at what they do and don’t cover.
Non-ACA options in Colorado
Health care sharing ministries are legal in Colorado, but they are not insurance. Members share bills under the group's guidelines, and the group does not have to pay any particular claim. Colorado requires these groups to report data each year, and the state's first report showed members submitted far more in bills than the groups paid.
Fixed-indemnity plans pay a set dollar amount for a hospital day or doctor visit, no matter what the care costs. Direct primary care memberships cover routine visits for a monthly fee but do not cover hospital stays or specialists.
These options can cost less each month, but they can leave you with large bills after a serious illness, and they do not count for federal tax credits or Colorado Premium Assistance. Before choosing one, compare it with a Colorado Option Bronze plan with financial help applied.
Health care sharing ministries
Health care sharing ministries operate in Colorado but are not insurance and do not have to pay any claim. Under HB22-1269, Colorado requires them to report enrollment, financial and claims data to the Division of Insurance each year, and the state's first report found members' submitted medical bills far exceeded what the arrangements paid.
Other options
Fixed-indemnity plans and direct primary care memberships are sold in Colorado, but neither is a full replacement for major medical coverage.
The trade-offs to understand
Health sharing programs are not insurance. Members share medical bills under the program’s guidelines, and payment isn’t guaranteed. Most limit or exclude pre-existing conditions for a period, and they don’t qualify for premium tax credits.
Fixed indemnity and similar plans pay set dollar amounts for specific events rather than covering your bills, so they work best as a supplement. Before choosing any non-ACA option, compare it against what you would actually pay for a Marketplace plan after subsidies.
Colorado questions
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Yes, but they are not insurance and are not required to pay claims. Colorado requires them to report enrollment, financial and claims data to the Division of Insurance every year.
No. A fixed-indemnity plan pays a set dollar amount for things like a hospital day or office visit, no matter what the care actually costs. It is not ACA coverage, so it does not have to cover pre-existing conditions or essential benefits, and it does not qualify for tax credits.
OmniSalud lets Coloradans who cannot use the regular exchange because of immigration status buy coverage. Limited SilverEnhanced Savings spots, for households under 150% of the poverty level, are filled by returning members first and then by lottery.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
