Short-Term Health Insurance in Colorado (2026)
Need coverage for a few months? Here’s what short-term health insurance looks like in Colorado right now, and the alternatives that usually work better.
Short-term coverage in Colorado
Short-term plans are not effectively available in Colorado
Colorado law caps short-term plans at six months with no renewals, and since April 2019 state rules have required them to be guaranteed-issue and cover essential health benefits. As a result, no insurer currently sells short-term health plans in Colorado. The federal government said in August 2025 it would stop enforcing the 2024 four-month federal limit, but that does not override Colorado's stricter rules.
Short-term health plans are not available in Colorado. State rules limit these plans to six months with no renewal and require them to follow many of the same rules as regular health plans, so insurers have stopped selling them here.
A federal change in 2025 eased enforcement of the four-month federal limit, but Colorado's stricter rules still apply. Ads promising a cheap short-term plan in Colorado may actually be selling something else, such as a fixed-indemnity or discount plan.
If you need coverage between jobs or before Medicare, look at a Marketplace plan during open enrollment or a special enrollment period, Colorado state continuation or COBRA, or Health First Colorado if your income is low.
What short-term plans are, and aren’t
Short-term plans are not ACA-compliant health insurance. Where they’re sold, insurers can ask about your health, decline to cover pre-existing conditions, and leave out benefits like maternity care, mental health care or prescriptions. They don’t qualify for premium tax credits.
They can make sense for a healthy person filling a short, known gap. For anyone with an ongoing condition, or who might qualify for subsidies, a Marketplace plan is usually the better choice.
Colorado questions
Don’t see your question? Ask a licensed agent or call (888) 214-4898.
No insurer currently sells short-term health plans in Colorado. State rules limit them to six months with no renewal and require them to meet many regular health plan standards, so insurers left the market.
No. In August 2025 the federal government said it would stop enforcing its 2024 four-month limit, but Colorado's own stricter rules still apply. A licensed agent can help you compare Marketplace plans or continuation coverage instead.
A Marketplace plan during open enrollment or a special enrollment period, Colorado state continuation or COBRA after a job loss, or Health First Colorado if your income is low. Each of these covers pre-existing conditions.
Sources
Reviewed October 2026. Rules and prices change every year; a licensed agent will confirm what applies to you.
