How many Medicare beneficiaries are in Colorado?

Colorado has approximately 0.95M Medicare beneficiaries. Roughly 50% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, with the balance on Original Medicare — often paired with a Medigap plan and a standalone Part D drug plan.

When is Colorado Medicare enrollment?

The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes effective January 1. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs January 1 through March 31. New-to-Medicare beneficiaries use their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday.

Is Medigap available in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado has all federal Medigap letter plans (A, B, D, G, K, L, M, N, and high-deductible G and F for those eligible) available from multiple carriers. Medical underwriting typically applies outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window, so timing matters.

Colorado · Medicare · 2026 plan year

Colorado Medicare plans for 2026.

Q: What are the top Medicare Advantage carriers in Colorado?

Leading Medicare Advantage carriers in Colorado include Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield CO, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Rocky Mountain Health Plans. Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Colorado has approximately 0.95M Medicare beneficiaries — about 50% on Medicare Advantage, the rest on Original Medicare. We compare Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and Part D options from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield CO, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Humana, UnitedHealthcare (AARP), Aetna, Rocky Mountain Health Plans.

Talk to a licensed Colorado Medicare advisor Medicare basics Browse plans yourself

0.95M

Colorado Medicare beneficiaries

~50%

on Medicare Advantage in CO

All 64

Colorado counties served

Carriers pay us — never you

Want to enroll yourself? Compare Colorado Medicare plans online.

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The core decision

Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap in Colorado

For most Coloradans, the choice between Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) plan is the biggest decision you'll make.

Medicare Advantage in Colorado

Bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D into a private plan. Most Colorado metros offer competitive $0-premium plans with dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation benefits.

Most Colorado MA plans are HMOs with local networks including UCHealth, HealthONE, Centura Health, SCL Health, Children's Colorado, Banner Health Northern Colorado. We verify your doctors before enrolling.

Medigap in Colorado

Pairs with Original Medicare and covers the deductibles, coinsurance, and copays Medicare doesn't pay. Any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare accepts Medigap — no networks.

Colorado Medigap premiums vary by ZIP and age, and carriers may medically underwrite outside your one-time 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment window.

Carriers

Top Medicare carriers in Colorado

Plan availability and network depth vary by county.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado

Colorado's Blue plan. Statewide network covering UCHealth, HealthONE, Centura, SCL Health, Children's Colorado.

Kaiser Permanente Colorado

Kaiser's Colorado region — strong Front Range presence (Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs). Vertically-integrated HMO with Kaiser doctors.

Humana & UnitedHealthcare

Both national carriers offer competitive MA plans across Colorado, with UnitedHealthcare's AARP Medigap plans being a popular choice.

Rocky Mountain Health Plans & Friday Health

Rocky Mountain (UnitedHealthcare subsidiary) is Colorado-based with strong Western Slope presence.

Part D

Part D prescription coverage in Colorado

Under the Inflation Reduction Act, 2026 Part D caps out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 per year and eliminates the old "donut hole."

Every Colorado Medicare beneficiary needs prescription drug coverage (or creditable alternative coverage) to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. Colorado has dozens of standalone Part D plans plus drug coverage bundled into most MA-PD plans.

Formulary check: The same medication can land in very different tiers across plans. We run your drug list against every Part D plan in your ZIP.
Preferred pharmacy: Many Colorado Part D plans offer lower copays at preferred pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, King Soopers (Kroger), Safeway, Walmart, Costco). Which pharmacy you prefer can change which plan is cheapest.
Extra Help / LIS: Colorado beneficiaries with limited income may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy that significantly reduces drug costs.

Timing

Medicare enrollment dates for Colorado

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7. Change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans; changes effective January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (MA OEP): January 1 – March 31. One plan change allowed for members already in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7 months around your 65th birthday — 3 months before, your birthday month, and 3 months after.
Medigap Open Enrollment: 6 months from your Part B effective date — the one-time window when Colorado Medigap carriers cannot deny you or charge more for health reasons.
Special Enrollment Periods: Moving into Colorado, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or moving into or out of a nursing facility may each trigger a SEP.

Common questions

Colorado Medicare FAQ

Are there Colorado-specific Medicare rules?

Medicare is federal, so core rules match nationwide. What varies in Colorado is plan availability, network depth, Medigap pricing, and carrier mix.

Can I switch from Advantage to Medigap later?

Sometimes. Outside your one-time Medigap Open Enrollment window, Colorado Medigap carriers can medically underwrite — which means they can decline you or charge more for health conditions. We walk through your specific options carefully.

What if my doctor is at a different network?

We verify every doctor and hospital you want to keep against each plan's network before recommending anything. Networks like UCHealth, HealthONE, Centura Health, SCL Health, Children's Colorado, Banner Health Northern Colorado are common in Colorado — but specifics vary plan by plan.

What does SilverEdge cost?

Nothing. Medicare carriers pay us a commission when you enroll. We earn the same regardless of which carrier you pick — our job is to find your best Colorado fit.

Coverage

Colorado counties we cover

All 64 Colorado counties. A few of the counties where we have the most active members:

Denver El Paso (Colorado Springs) Arapahoe Jefferson Adams Larimer (Fort Collins) Boulder Douglas Weld Pueblo Mesa (Grand Junction) Garfield Eagle La Plata (Durango) Routt (Steamboat) Summit Pitkin (Aspen) Montrose Fremont Otero + 44 more

★★★★★

$1,560 / yr saved

on Medicare Advantage · Denver, CO

"I split time between Denver and a cabin in the mountains. SilverEdge found me a PPO with statewide coverage and a strong national network so I'm covered when traveling too."

Jennifer H.

Statewide PPO · Denver, CO

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