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Medicare Advantage Plans in Colorado for 2026

Colorado offers diverse Medicare Advantage plan options, with an average monthly premium of $12.91 in 2026. These all-in-one plans provide an alternative to Original Medicare by combining hospital insurance (Part A) and medical insurance (Part B) with additional coverages like prescription drug (Part D) coverage into a single plan.

Key Colorado Medicare Facts

Total Medicare Enrollment: There are currently over 1,056,627 individuals enrolled in Medicare across Colorado.
Average Premiums: The average monthly Medicare Advantage plan premium in Colorado for 2026 is $12.91.
Plan Options: Residents have access to 108 Medicare Advantage plans statewide in 2026.

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape State-by-State Fact Sheet

What is a Medicare Advantage plan in Colorado?

Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans serve as an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans are administered by private insurance companies approved by the federal Medicare program. Medicare Advantage plans must legally offer the same coverage as Parts A and B, but may include additional routine benefits like dental, vision, or hearing care.

Common Plan Types in Colorado

Colorado beneficiaries primarily choose between two network structures:

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): Requires utilizing an established network of localized providers and obtaining primary care referrals for specialists. Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealthcare are prominent HMO carriers in Colorado.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): Offers the flexibility to see out-of-network providers without a referral, typically at a higher cost. UnitedHealthcare is a leading provider of PPO options across Colorado.

Popular Medicare Advantage Carriers Available in Colorado

Carrier Name	Plan Types Offered in CO	2026 CMS Star Rating (Average)	Notable Features
Kaiser Permanente	HMO	5.0 stars	Top-rated integrated care model; popular in the Denver Metro and Front Range areas.
UnitedHealthcare (AARP)	HMO, PPO, D-SNP	4.0 stars	Largest national network; additional benefits like OTC credits and gym memberships (Renew Active).
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield	HMO, PPO, D-SNP	4.0 stars	Local Colorado presence; known for PPO networks that offer flexibility in seeing specialists.
Humana	HMO, PPO, PFFS	4.0 stars	Competitive $0 premium options; exceptional customer service and strong veteran-focused (USA) plans.
Aetna Medicare	HMO, PPO, D-SNP	4.0 stars	Broad network access; comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing benefits often bundled into $0 plans.
Cigna Healthcare	HMO, PPO	4.0 stars	Affordable out-of-pocket maximums and chronic condition management programs.

Disclaimer: Plan availability, benefits, and CMS Star Ratings vary by specific county and zip code. The Star Ratings listed above are state-level averages or represent top-performing local contracts. Speak with a SelectQuote licensed insurance agent to confirm the exact Star Rating of plans available in your specific area.

Plan Availability by Top Colorado Counties

Medicare Advantage plan availability is determined at the local level rather than by state boundaries. Because private insurance carriers establish specific service areas, the number of available plans, network restrictions, and ancillary benefits vary depending on your county or zip code of residence.

This geographic variation is notable among Colorado's most populous counties:

El Paso County: Encompassing the Colorado Springs metropolitan area, residents have access to a selection of plans with provider networks tailored to the Pikes Peak region.
Denver County: Beneficiaries in the city and county of Denver utilize a dense healthcare infrastructure, resulting in a concentration of HMO and PPO options leveraging urban hospital systems.
Arapahoe County: Spanning a portion of the metro area's eastern suburbs, this county features competitive carrier landscapes, yielding plans with a wide variety of supplemental benefits.
Jefferson County: Serving the western suburban and foothill communities, the plan's availability balances urban network access with provider groups that stretch into rural areas.
Adams County: Located in the northern metro sector, Adams County's population growth has attracted a range of Medicare Advantage plans, offering managed care alternatives to Original Medicare.

Disclaimer: Medicare Advantage plan availability, premiums, and provider networks in Colorado vary by county and ZIP code. County-level descriptions are based on general Medicare market trends, population distribution, and typical rural vs. urban plan availability patterns. Actual plan options and benefits are determined by each insurance carrier and may change annually.

2026 Colorado Medicare Enrollment Periods

You can only make changes to your Medicare coverage during specific windows throughout the calendar year. Understanding these timelines helps prevent gaps in your healthcare coverage.

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 to December 7: The primary window for any Medicare beneficiary to make adjustments. During this period, you can switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, revert from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare, or change your current Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. Adjustments made during AEP take effect on January 1, 2026.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP): January 1 to March 31: An enrollment window reserved for individuals who are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. During OEP, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare. You cannot use this period to transition from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, nor can you enroll in a standalone Part D plan unless you are returning to Original Medicare.
Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Occurs Upon Qualifying Life Events: An individualized window triggered by specific lifestyle changes, allowing coverage modifications outside standard periods. Common localized triggers in Colorado include:
- Relocation: Moving to a different county or zip code within Colorado, or relocating into the state, which alters your plan’s geographic service area.
- Loss of Coverage: Involuntary loss of creditable employer-sponsored health insurance or union coverage.
- Subsidy Changes: Gaining or losing eligibility for Medicaid or Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the 2026 Medicare Part D changes affect my Medicare Advantage plan in Colorado?

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the annual out-of-pocket spending limit for Medicare Part D-covered prescription drugs is capped at $2,100 for 2026 (increasing to $2,400 in 2027). If your Colorado Medicare Advantage plan includes integrated prescription drug coverage (MA-PD), this federal cap protects you from further out-of-pocket drug costs. Once your deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for covered medications reach this out-of-pocket limit, your plan covers 100% of your formulary medication costs for the remainder of 2026.

Do I need a referral to see a specialist on a Colorado Medicare Advantage plan?

Referral requirements depend on the specific network structure of your plan. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, commonly offered in Colorado by carriers such as Kaiser Permanente and Anthem, require a referral from a primary care provider to see a specialist. Conversely, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans do not require referrals for specialist care, though seeking care out-of-network generally incurs higher cost-sharing.

Additionally, administrative network management shifts can alter provider access; for instance, Optum Health Networks manages specific UnitedHealthcare plan networks in Colorado, impacting which specialists are considered in-network.

Are insulin costs capped on Colorado Medicare Advantage plans?

Yes. Federal law requires that, for 2026, all Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription coverage cap cost-sharing for a one-month supply of a covered insulin product at $35. Furthermore, this price protection applies immediately, meaning your plan cannot apply a deductible to your covered insulin purchases.

What happens if my Colorado Medicare Advantage plan doesn't include prescription drug coverage?

While many Medicare Advantage plans in Colorado include prescription drug coverage, some exclude it. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that lacks Part D coverage, you cannot simply purchase a standalone Prescription Drug plan (PDP) on the open market, as doing so will automatically disenroll you from your Medicare Advantage plan and return you to Original Medicare.

Maintaining a plan without creditable prescription drug coverage may subject you to a permanent late enrollment penalty from the federal government if you choose to acquire drug coverage in the future.

How are mental health services covered under Colorado Medicare Advantage plans in 2026?

Per Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations for 2026, Medicare Advantage plans must adhere to strict cost-sharing parity with traditional Medicare Fee-for-Service for behavioral health and substance use disorder services. Consequently, Colorado Medicare Advantage plans cannot impose cost-sharing for mental health services that exceeds what you would pay under Original Medicare, ensuring equitable financial access to behavioral health treatments.

Compare Medicare Supplement Plans in Colorado

While Medicare Advantage plans consolidate your coverage into a managed care network, Colorado beneficiaries seeking maximum provider flexibility may prefer pairing Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plan. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap policies do not use provider networks, so you can receive care from any physician or hospital nationwide that accepts Original Medicare. These standardized plans are designed to work alongside your government benefits, covering out-of-pocket gaps such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Note: You cannot be enrolled in a Medigap plan and a Part C plan at the same time.

Learn more about Medicare Supplement Plans in Colorado.

Why choose SelectQuote?

Choosing a Medicare plan is a major decision, and navigating all the options can feel overwhelming. We’re here to help you clear the confusion. SelectQuote has spent more than 40 years helping people find coverage that truly fits their needs. Instead of spending hours on your own researching insurance companies one by one, let one of our licensed insurance agents compare local plans on your behalf in just minutes. We take your specific medications, doctor networks, and budget into account to provide a clear overview of the Colorado market, so you feel confident in your choice.

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Reviews from Colorado Neighbors: Colorado seniors often tell us how much they appreciate getting clear answers about local network changes. Whether you are navigating provider networks in Denver or looking for plans in El Paso County, we can help you find the right fit for your needs.

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