The rules that matter in Colorado
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Small group definition | From January 1, 2026, small employers average 1–50 employees (SB 24-073). Employers with 51–100 employees who bought small group coverage before 2026 can stay for up to five years. |
| Colorado Option | Insurers selling small group plans must offer standardized Colorado Option plans at bronze, silver and gold levels, with $0 copays for primary care and mental health office visits. |
| State continuation | Employers with fewer than 20 employees: employees and dependents can continue coverage for up to 18 months. |
| Federal rules | COBRA at 20+ employees; the ACA employer mandate at 50+ full-time equivalents. |
What it means for your company
If you're 51–100 people, you're now in the large group market at your next new policy, where carriers can rate you on your own experience. Some teams will see lower prices; teams with a few expensive claims will see higher ones. Either way, it's a natural moment to compare options.
I like the Colorado Option's direction: $0 copays for primary care and mental health visits are exactly the kind of design that gets people care early. A Prescience plan pushes the same idea further, with an effective $0 deductible and a care team that helps people use it.
How a Prescience plan works in Colorado
At Prescience, we design and run your company's health plan, from setup and enrollment to claims, compliance and COBRA. What your team gets:
- An effective $0 deductible, so the plan helps from the first visit.
- Simple copays shown before a visit, capped by a low out-of-pocket maximum.
- A broad national PPO network, plus providers we contract with directly.
- 24/7 physician-led care navigation: a care team that finds the right provider, books appointments and explains costs up front.
What your company gets: one monthly cost set in your quote, usually 10–20% below comparable fully insured coverage and fixed before the plan starts, with no admin fees. You keep your payroll provider, and the plan can start mid-year.
We work with Colorado employers of 2 or more employees, and with distributed teams that have employees in Colorado and other states.
See what your team would pay with Prescience
Answer a few questions about your team and get a quote in about 60 seconds, or talk it through with one of our benefits experts.
