Catastrophic health insurance can be worth considering if you want a lower monthly premium and can handle substantial out-of-pocket costs when you need care. But it isn’t automatically the cheapest option, and not everyone qualifies to enroll.
For 2027, start by comparing the premiums available for your household.
Calculate Your 2027 Catastrophic Plan Premium
Our calculator compares Anthem and Kaiser catastrophic plan rates by age and Colorado rating area. It uses 2027 rate data supplied by Connect for Health Colorado. A calculated premium doesn’t establish enrollment eligibility or confirm availability at your address.
Who can enroll in a catastrophic plan?
You can generally enroll if you’re:
- Under age 30 at the beginning of the plan year, or
- Age 30 or older with an approved hardship or affordability exemption.
People under 30 don’t need an exemption. Adults age 30 and older should confirm their exemption approval before relying on a catastrophic plan as their coverage option.
Each person enrolling must meet the eligibility requirements. One household member’s eligibility doesn’t automatically qualify everyone else.
What about people who don’t qualify for subsidies?
Federal guidance expanded income-related hardship exemption pathways beginning with 2026 coverage. That makes catastrophic coverage worth investigating for people whose income prevents them from receiving financial assistance.
However, not qualifying for subsidies and being approved to enroll in catastrophic coverage are separate determinations. Don’t assume that entering income above the subsidy cutoff completes the exemption process.
Colorado uses Connect for Health Colorado rather than HealthCare.gov for marketplace enrollment. We can help you determine which exemption process applies to your circumstances.
Other hardship and affordability exemptions
Hardship exemptions can address circumstances such as eviction, bankruptcy, substantial medical debt, or a disaster that made obtaining coverage difficult.
An affordability exemption considers the cost of available coverage relative to household income. The applicable percentage changes over time, so use the requirements for the coverage year you’re applying for.
If you’re considering a catastrophic plan, start the exemption process early enough to complete enrollment before your coverage deadline.
What does catastrophic health insurance cover?
Catastrophic plans are ACA-compliant major medical insurance. They cover essential health benefits and can’t exclude a medical condition simply because you had it before enrolling.
They generally combine lower premiums with high deductibles. Most nonpreventive care is subject to the deductible, although covered preventive services are available without cost sharing when you meet the plan’s requirements.
Catastrophic plans also cover at least three primary care visits before the deductible. That doesn’t necessarily mean those visits are free, or that associated lab work and other services receive the same treatment.
Review the specific plan’s benefits, prescription coverage, and network. The out-of-pocket maximum applies to covered, in-network care; it doesn’t cap every possible medical expense.
Catastrophic versus Bronze: compare your actual premium
Premium tax credits cannot be used toward catastrophic coverage.
That can change the comparison substantially. A Bronze plan with a higher full-price premium may cost you less after financial assistance.
If you qualify for cost-sharing reductions, compare eligible Silver plans too. Those additional benefits can reduce your deductible and other out-of-pocket costs.
| What to compare | Catastrophic coverage | Bronze coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Enrollment eligibility | Under 30, or an approved exemption | No catastrophic-specific age or exemption requirement |
| Federal premium tax credits | Cannot be applied | Available with eligible on-exchange coverage |
| Costs when you need care | Usually a high deductible; check benefits | Deductibles and benefits vary by plan |
| HSA compatibility | HSA-compatible | Individual market Bronze plans are HSA-compatible |
| Doctors and prescriptions | Check the specific plan | Check the specific plan |
Our Colorado subsidies guide explains financial assistance. If you’re estimating household income, try the MAGI calculator.
Can you contribute to an HSA?
Beginning in 2026, individual market Bronze and catastrophic plans became HSA-compatible. That continues for 2027.
You still have to meet the personal eligibility requirements for 2027 HSA contributions. Other coverage, Medicare enrollment, or being eligible to be claimed as someone else’s tax dependent can affect your eligibility.
HSA compatibility also doesn’t make every plan’s benefits identical. Compare premiums, networks, deductibles, and prescription coverage separately.
When can you enroll for 2027?
Colorado’s open enrollment runs November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027.
- Select a plan by December 15, 2026, for coverage beginning January 1, 2027.
- Select a plan from December 16 through January 15 for coverage beginning February 1, 2027.
Outside open enrollment, you generally need a qualifying event that provides a special enrollment opportunity. An exemption allowing catastrophic coverage doesn’t, by itself, replace enrollment-period requirements.
See our Colorado open enrollment guide for details.
Help comparing your options
Use the 2027 catastrophic premium calculator to get a starting estimate, then compare it with the other plans available to your household.
Contact us with your county, household ages, estimated annual income, preferred providers, and prescriptions. We can help compare the numbers and check whether catastrophic coverage is an option for you.