Cigna is exiting the individual and family medical insurance market nationwide, effective January 1, 2027. That means Cigna will no longer offer ACA-compliant medical plans for people who buy coverage on their own, both on and off the Marketplace. Coverage through a Cigna individual plan continues through December 31, 2026, and Cigna is not leaving insurance altogether: individual and family dental plans, employer-sponsored medical plans, pharmacy benefits, and behavioral health services are all unaffected. If you or your family are on a Cigna individual medical plan in Colorado, you will need to choose new coverage for 2027, and this guide walks through exactly what to do and when.
What exactly is Cigna changing, and when?
Effective January 1, 2027, Cigna Healthcare will discontinue its medical Individual & Family Plans (IFPs) nationwide, both on the Health Insurance Marketplace and off-Marketplace. Customers on these plans keep their coverage through December 31, 2026, and letters notifying affected customers went out in July 2026. In Colorado, this applies to Cigna Connect and Cigna Colorado Option plans, which have been sold across counties including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Jefferson, Larimer, Teller, and Weld.
Is my Cigna coverage ending right away?
No. If you are currently enrolled in a Cigna individual or family medical plan, your coverage stays in place through December 31, 2026, with no changes to your benefits or network in the meantime. Connect for Health Colorado has also confirmed that impacted customers qualify for a Special Enrollment Period until March 1, 2027, so you will not be left without a way to enroll. The important part is not to wait past your window: for most Coloradans, the simplest path to continuous coverage is choosing a new plan during Open Enrollment rather than switching mid-year.
How do I get new coverage for 2027 in Colorado?
Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs November 1 through December 15 on Connect for Health Colorado, with coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you buy on the Marketplace, you can compare the carriers still offering plans statewide, which include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Denver Health Medical Plans, Kaiser Permanente, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and Select Health, along with off-Marketplace options from other carriers.
One caution from the Marketplace itself: if you switch plans before January 1, your new plan will not honor the deductible and out-of-pocket costs you have already built up this year. Changing plans during Open Enrollment for a January 1 start avoids that problem for almost everyone. If you do want to change sooner, the Special Enrollment Period through March 1, 2027 gives you the flexibility, but review deductibles, networks, and prescription coverage carefully first.
Why is Cigna leaving the individual market?
Cigna announced the decision in April 2026 and told investors it could not see a path to scaling its Marketplace business to a size that mattered for the broader company. The exit affects roughly 369,000 members across 11 states nationally. The broader backdrop matters too: enhanced federal premium subsidies expired at the end of 2025, Marketplace enrollment fell by more than a million people, and several other insurers have also announced exits for 2027. Fewer carriers can mean fewer plan choices and higher prices in some counties, which makes comparing plans carefully during Open Enrollment more important than ever.
Is Cigna leaving Colorado completely?
No, and this is where a lot of the confusion clears up. Only individual and family medical plans are going away. Cigna will continue to offer individual and family dental insurance in Colorado, and its employer-sponsored group medical plans, pharmacy benefits, and behavioral health services are completely unaffected. If you have a Cigna plan through your employer, nothing changes for you. If you have a Cigna dental plan, that continues as well.
What should I look for in a replacement plan?
Start with the three things that determine whether a plan actually works for you: your doctors, your prescriptions, and your total annual cost. Confirm your preferred doctors and hospitals are in the new plan's network, check that your medications are covered at a price you can live with, and compare the full picture, meaning premium plus deductible plus the copays you are likely to use, rather than the monthly price alone. Our guide to buying individual health insurance in Colorado walks through that comparison step by step.
How a Colorado broker can help?
A licensed broker can check which carriers serve your county, verify your doctors and prescriptions against the new plan options, and see what financial help you may qualify for, all at no cost to you, since carriers compensate brokers. With one major carrier leaving the Colorado Marketplace, a quick side-by-side comparison matters more this Open Enrollment than in most years. If you were on a Cigna plan or want a second opinion on your options, talk with us about your individual and family coverage or call (303) 466-9575. There is no fee for our help.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not insurance, medical, tax, or legal advice. Plan availability, benefits, and costs vary by county, carrier, and plan year, and carrier participation can change. Confirm details during your consult. Kelmeg & Associates, Inc. is a licensed Colorado insurance brokerage.