Information about Medicare Advantage Plans in Colorado

Quick links:

• Average 2023 Costs
• Eligibility & Enrollment
• Finding Top-Rated Plans
• List of Plans Available
  • Plans by Carrier
  • Plans by County
  • Plans by Type
• Local Resources

There are 1,038 different Colorado Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans available in 2023.¹ Not every plan is available in each county, however.

A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the availability, benefits and costs of Medicare Advantage plans that are offered where you live in Colorado.

Average costs of Medicare Advantage in Colorado

The average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage that includes prescription drug coverage in Colorado in 2023 is $13.73 per month, though you may be able to find Colorado Medicare plans that feature $0 premiums.¹ And the average deductible for plans in Colorado is $26.14 per year.¹ 

The costs associated with Medicare Advantage plans in your area can vary.

The average costs and enrollment information for 2023 Colorado Medicare Advantage plans are listed by county below in this guide.

A licensed insurance agent can help you compare Medicare Advantage plan costs in your area.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!

Medicare Eligibility & Enrollment

In order to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan in Colorado, you must first be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B (also called Original Medicare).

In order to sign up for Original Medicare at age 65:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for five continuous years.
  
  
• You or your spouse must be eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.
  
  
• You or your spouse must be government employees or retirees who have paid Medicare payroll taxes.

You may be able to enroll in Medicare before age 65 if:

• You receive Social Security disability benefits or certain Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for at least 24 months.
  
  
• You have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease).
  
  
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

If you have ESRD, you may be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Colorado Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) that is specifically designed to help meet your health care needs.

How to sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan in Colorado

Your first opportunity to enroll in a Colorado Medicare Advantage plan is typically during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).

Your Medicare IEP begins three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your birthday and continues for three more months after your birthday.

Once your IEP ends, you may be able to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan during one of the following enrollment periods:

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31

You may switch Medicare Advantage plans or drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare during this period, which lasts from Jan. 1 to March 31 each year.

You can join a Medicare standalone prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D) if you return to Original Medicare during this period.

Fall Medicare Open Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7

You may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another during Medicare AEP, which lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year.

During the fall open enrollment period, also known as the Annual Enrollment Period or AEP, you may also join, switch or drop a Medicare Part D plan. 

You may also drop your existing Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.

Medicare Special Enrollment Periods (SEP)

You may potentially be granted a Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for qualifying circumstances. A Medicare SEP could potentially happen at any time during the year.

A licensed insurance agent can help you find out if you qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!

Top-rated Medicare Advantage Plans in Colorado 2023

Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues star ratings for all Medicare Advantage plans using a system of one to five stars.

In order for a Medicare Part C plan to be considered a top-rated plan, it must have four or more stars out of five stars.

Plans are graded using a star system and are re-evaluated every year, so a plan’s ratings can change annually.

52.5% of 2023 Medicare Advantage plans in Colorado with prescription drug benefits are rated four stars or higher.²

Medicare Advantage plans are rated on five primary categories:

• Preventive care and health maintenance (screenings, tests, vaccines, etc.)
• Management of chronic conditions
• Member experiences and ratings of the plan
• Member complaints, problems receiving services and member retention
• Customer service

The information for the star ratings is gathered from member surveys, information that is submitted to Medicare and Medicare’s regular monitoring activities.

List of Medicare Advantage Plans Available in Colorado in 2023

To view a list of plans offered in your area within Colorado, use our plan comparison tool.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!

Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans in Colorado

Different insurance carriers may offer Medicare Advantage plans in Colorado, but plan availability can vary from one region of the state to another.

Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans that may be unique to the plan area they serve.

A licensed insurance agent can help you find Medicare Advantage plans that are sold by insurance companies in your area.

You can also use some of the following information to get help finding a Medicare Advantage plan that fits your needs:

• The Medicare Star Ratings can give you an idea of a plan’s overall quality.
  
  
• Agencies like A.M. Best, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s can provide information about an insurance company’s credit rating and financial standing.
  
  
• Websites such as the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports can teach you about a company’s reputation among its customers.
  
  
• You can read through Medicare Advantage plan reviews and testimonials from customers.

Colorado Medicare Advantage plans by county

Learn more about Medicare Advantage plans in some of Colorado's most populous counties.

• Adams County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Alamosa County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Arapahoe County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Baca County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Bent County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Boulder County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Broomfield County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Chaffee County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Cheyenne County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Clear Creek County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Conejos County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Costilla County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Crowley County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Custer County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Delta County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Denver County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Dolores County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Douglas County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Eagle County Medicare Advantage Plans
• El Paso County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Elbert County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Fremont County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Garfield County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Gilpin County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Gunnison County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Hinsdale County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Huerfano County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Jackson County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Jefferson County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Kiowa County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Kit Carson County Medicare Advantage Plans
• La Plata County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Lake County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Larimer County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Las Animas County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Lincoln County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Logan County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Mesa County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Mineral County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Moffat County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Montezuma County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Montrose County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Morgan County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Otero County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Ouray County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Park County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Phillips County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Pitkin County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Prowers County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Pueblo County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Rio Blanco County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Rio Grande County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Routt County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Saguache County Medicare Advantage Plans
• San Miguel County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Sedgwick County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Summit County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Teller County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Washington County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Weld County Medicare Advantage Plans
• Yuma County Medicare Advantage Plans

CO Medicare Advantage plans by plan type

The major types of Medicare Advantage plans include:

• HMO
  A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) will typically require you to only visit health care providers, hospitals and pharmacies that are in your plan network (except in the case of emergencies).
  
  An HMO plan will also typically require you to get a referral from a primary care doctor in order to see a specialist.
  
  
• PPO
  If you have a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), you may be able to see providers outside of your plan’s network, often at a higher cost.
  
  Beneficiaries of a PPO plan typically pay less out of pocket if they choose to receive medical services from providers within their plan’s network.
  
  PPO plans typically do not require patients to acquire a referral before going to see a specialist.
  
  
• PFFS
  A Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plan determines how much it will pay to health care providers and how much the patient will pay at the point when care is received.
  
  With a PFFS plan, you can typically receive care from any doctor, hospital or health care provider, as long as they accept Medicare as well as your plan terms.
  
  
• SNP
  A Special Needs Plan (SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan limited to people with certain chronic conditions and other specific characteristics, such as being dual eligible for Medicaid and Medicare.

Not all of these types of plans may be available in your area. A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the types of 2023 Colorado Medicare Advantage plans that are available where you live.

Local health insurance resources in Colorado

• Colorado’s Senior Health Insurance Assistance Program provides free help regarding Medicare benefits, Medicare Supplement Insurance, long-term care insurance and more.
  
  This community program puts on public presentations, provides individual counseling, distributes educational materials and answers questions from beneficiaries, their families and caregivers.
  
  The Colorado SHIP may be contacted at 888-696-7213.
  
  
• You can also explore more information about the insurance industry in Colorado by visiting the state’s Department of Insurance website.
  
  
• Colorado Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
  The state of Colorado has a number of programs designed to help with the cost of prescription drugs. There are programs for both Medicare beneficiaries and non-Medicare beneficiaries alike that can cover the cost of premiums and cost-sharing or even lower the cost of the drugs themselves.

¹ MedicareAdvantage.com's The Best States for Medicare report.

² Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.