Congress could still act to reduce a 28% spike in premiums on Colorado’s individual health-insurance marketplace next year, but time is running short as open enrollment nears.
The largest factor behind the anticipated surge in premiums is that higher federal subsidies put in place during the pandemic will expire Dec. 31, said Adam Fox, deputy director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative.
About 321,000 people received subsidies to buy insurance on Colorado’s marketplace last year.
When those subsidies end, customers will have to pay more for their health coverage, and insurance companies are betting that healthier people will balk, leaving a group that’s sicker on average and includes fewer people to spread out the cost of care, he said.
People who receive health coverage through their employers are in separate pools, so the end of the subsidies won’t affect them directly. Most plans increase their premiums every year to cover rising costs of health care and medications.
Colorado’s Democratic members of Congress have said they’ll push for a separate bill to extend the enhanced subsidies, but House and Senate leadership haven’t shown interest in taking one up.
The Colorado Division of Insurance reported that companies selling on the individual marketplace submitted requests to increase their rates by an average of 28.4% next year, with larger increases on the Eastern Plains and Western Slope.
That put Colorado at the higher end for potential increases, compared to other states that have released data. A sample of 105 insurers from 19 other states found proposed increases ranging from less than 5% to more than 30%, according to KFF, a nonprofit that studies health care markets.
How much of that increase people have to shoulder will depend on their incomes. The enhanced subsidies lowered the share of income that a household had to pay toward insurance coverage, to the point that people just above the cutoff to be eligible for Medicaid paid nothing. That will change in January.
If Congress acted this summer to extend the enhanced subsidies, the state would work with insurers to adjust their premiums and lower costs for consumers, said Katie O’Donnell, director of communications and public engagement for the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, which includes the Division of Insurance.
The state finalizes insurance rates in October and open enrollment begins Nov. 1, giving lawmakers a relatively narrow window to make changes.
Even if the enhanced subsidies continued, premiums would still go up, though the increase would be closer to the 5% to 10% Colorado has seen in recent years, Fox said. Smaller changes made by the Trump administration have increased uncertainty for insurance companies, though not nearly as drastically as losing the higher subsidies, he said.
“Insurance markets hate uncertainty, and there are a lot of changes happening to the individual market,” he said.
Colorado also will have less money available to limit rate increases through its reinsurance program next year, Fox said.
Reinsurance backstops insurance companies, so they don’t pay as much for sick customers who need expensive care. That allows them to keep premiums lower, and means the federal government doesn’t have to pay out as much in tax credits to subsidize consumers. The federal government then gives that money back to the states that have reinsurance programs, allowing them to keep lowering premiums.
The rate increases that companies selling on the individual market in Colorado requested are:
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado: 15.3%
SelectHealth: 19.3%
Denver Health: 23.4%
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company: 29.4%
Anthem (HMO CO Inc.): 33.6%
Rocky Mountain HMO (United Healthcare): 36.4%
Older people and those who live in rural areas will see larger increases in premiums on the individual marketplace, though the remaining subsidies will blunt some of the impact.
The cost to insure a 21-year-old in Denver would rise by $1,057 a year, while the increase would be $5,186 a year for a 60-year-old on the Western Slope, according to the Division of Insurance.
The average increases by region would be:
Colorado Springs: 24.2%
Denver: 25.4%
Boulder: 26.7%
Greeley: 29.0%
Fort Collins: 29.4%
Pueblo: 30.4%
Eastern Plains: 33.4%
Grand Junction: 38.4%
Western Slope: 38.8%
The Division of Insurance hasn’t released any projections of how many people might drop their coverage altogether, or switch to an option with lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs if they get sick. Either move could leave individuals with larger medical bills and health care providers with greater uncompensated care costs.
Insurance companies don’t always get the increases they ask for, but typically the requested rates are close to the approved ones, Fox said.
The division examines the insurers’ estimates of how much it will likely cost them to cover customers in the coming year, to ensure they collect enough premiums to remain financially stable, but don’t make excessive profits.
Given all of the changes coming this year, the division will have a tougher time making the case that insurers don’t need significant increases, he said.
Updated 10:20 a.m. July 22, 2025: This story has been updated to correct figures for premiums that a 21-year-old and 60-year-old would pay. Those are annual costs.
Many of us could be leaving this important task too late
Holidaymakers must ensure they follow this step when planning trips or risk losing out(Image: Getty)
Financial expert Martin Lewis has advised Brits not to overlook a crucial step when arranging their holidays. And he said missing this from your list before a holiday could even result in you losing thousands of pounds.
Martin Lewis, through his Money Saving Expert website, has cautioned that travellers must arrange travel insurance immediately upon making their booking. Delaying this essential step could leave you in financial difficulty should problems arise before departure.
MSE began by stating: “Booked but not got travel insurance yet? Do it now! Martin’s been yelling ‘get travel insurance ASAB’ (As Soon As you Book) for years.
“Yet still too many excitedly book their holiday, then leave insurance till the last minute. That’s a mistake – half the cover’s value is protecting you before you go, in case something stops you going. So if you’ve booked and not got cover, do it right now!”
Drawing from personal encounters, Martin said: “Every year, a few people contact me after something awful, such as a cancer diagnosis that needs chemo, but the airline or hotel won’t refund them (they don’t have to). I tell them: ‘That’s what insurance is for, speak to your insurer.’
“But if they haven’t got it yet, no matter how horrid the circumstances, there’s nothing that can be done. Don’t be that person.”
Martin Lewis said people should ‘get travel insurance as soon as you book’(Image: Getty)
Where to obtain travel insurance
MSE specialists have highlighted some of the most cost-effective travel insurance alternatives that hold Financial Conduct Authority regulation. For those travelling overseas twice annually or more, they suggest securing an annual policy.
MSE advised: “If you’ll go abroad at least twice a year, even just for weekends, annual cover usually works out cheapest. It covers virtually all trips away, though often has a duration limit of a max 30 days per trip (you can oft pay more to extend this). The exact price depends on age and circumstances, so we give the four cheapest options – check at least a couple.”
For those under age 66 they recommended checking policies from:
Coverwise
Admiral (use discount code MSE15)
Leisure Guard Flexi
Urban Jungle
For over-65s they recommended:
Admiral (use discount code MSE15)
Urban Jungle
Leisure Guard Flexi
Saga
If you’re only going away once in a year it’s probably best to get single-trip insurance. “For those who just want to cover one trip (or may need specialist cover for it), enter the dates you’re travelling, even if months ahead, and you’ll be covered for cancellation from the moment you pay,” MSE said.
For those under age 66 they recommended looking at:
Coverwise
A to Z Insurance
Admiral (use discount code MSE15)
Leisure Guard Flexi
For over-65s they recommended:
A to Z Insurance
Admiral (use discount code MSE15)
Leisure Guard Flexi
Coverwise
You must remember that if you have, or have ever had, a physical or mental health condition, you’ll usually need to declare it to the travel insurer. In some cases, it changes nothing.
To compare travel insurance options you can use the MSE cheap travel insurance finder tool here.
July 24 2025, 9:32 am | BY Ricki Green | No Comments
Following a competitive pitch for media, Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) has finalised its agency village, with three Sydney-based agencies to lead its advertising, PR and media strategy across Australia and New Zealand, marking a significant step in its trans-Tasman growth ambitions.
Creative duties in Australia will be handled by strategic marketing agency Quantum Jump Sydney, a NZ-founded agency which recently expanded to Australia, known for its award-winning work in data-driven creative, CRM and loyalty.
The media account was won by This is Flow across both Australia and New Zealand markets. The Sydney-based independent agency, celebrated for its culture, innovative planning tools and results-driven approach, will lead all media planning and buying activity from traditional through to performance.
Sydney-based PR and communications agency Sedgwick Communications has continued its longstanding partnership with the travel insurer and retained its Australian PR account – a testament to the agency’s deep understanding of the SCTI brand, proven track record, and commitment to delivering outstanding communications.
Says Jess Strange, Chief Customer Officer at SCTI: “We’re excited to announce our new agency village and our partnerships with This Is Flow, Quantum Jump Sydney and Sedgwick Communications, particularly as we accelerate our growth in the Australian market. All our agencies bring deep digital expertise and a strong focus on performance, which aligns perfectly with our customer-first philosophy.
“We loved Flow’s transparent, real time media approach, QJ’s collaborative approach to creative ideation, and their focus on our success. Both agencies’ Kiwi connections are a bonus, but it’s their understanding of the Australian landscape that makes them ideal partners for this next chapter”.
Says Jimmy Hyett, CEO of This Is Flow: “SCTI is the kind of brand we love to work with – ambitious, customer-centric and ready to push boundaries. Our mission is all about delivering a state of growth for our clients, and with SCTI, we have a chance to bring this to life across both countries, creating work that not only performs, but genuinely connects with travellers.”
Says Rachel Wintle, GM for Quantum Jump Sydney: “Quantum Jump is built on heavy-duty thinking and creative magic. Our expertise in driving return on customer has delivered real commercial impact in New Zealand, and we’re thrilled to partner with This is Flow and Sedgwick Communications to support SCTI in Australia. SCTI is a brand with purpose and ambition – we’re proud to be part of the journey and excited to grow the brand in Australia.”
Says Laura Sedgwick, Managing Director at Sedgwick Communications: “We’re proud of the depth of our partnership with SCTI, built over years of working closely together to grow the brand. As SCTI continues to pursue ambitious growth plans, we’re excited to help drive that journey, delivering sharp, strategic communications that connect with travellers and support the business at every step.”
With the new agency village now onboard, SCTI is poised to deepen its engagement with Australian travellers while continuing to lead in New Zealand. The appointments signal a new era of creativity, strategy and impact for the trusted Kiwi travel insurer.
Pictured (L-R): Ben Goodale (Quantum Jump); Jess Strange (Southern Cross Travel Insurance); Laura Sedgwick (Sedgwick Communications); Rachel Winkle (Quantum Jump); Jimmy Hyett (This Is Flow)
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For the millions of Texans who get their health insurance on the marketplace, coverage is likely to get a lot pricier next year.
In 2026, marketplace enrollees will likely face a dual hit, from the expected expiration of federal subsidies and insurers’ forecasts of higher premiums.
Texas already has the highest uninsured rate in the country, and higher marketplace costs could push more people to forego coverage.
“Most enrollees are going to be facing a double whammy of both higher insurance bills … but also the loss of the subsidies that lower much of that cost to them,” said Matt McGough, a policy analyst at KFF.
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Marketplace plans are the health coverage options that people can purchase for themselves and their families under the Affordable Care Act. Nearly 4 million Texans enrolled in such plans for this year.
Expiration of subsidies
The larger cost hit is likely to come from a change in federal policy.
Many marketplace enrollees are currently eligible for enhanced federal subsidies to help pay for their marketplace plans. The enhanced subsidies, which give more funding to low-income enrollees and also expand eligibility to more middle-income enrollees, were originally added in 2021.
However, the enhanced subsidies expire at the end of the year, and U.S. lawmakers have not moved to renew them. If they expire, marketplace enrollees would have to pay their existing premiums plus any cost previously covered by the federal government.
For Texans receiving subsidies for marketplace plans, removing enhanced funding would lead to the average premium payment more than doubling.
For those Texans, according to KFF, the average annual premium in 2024 was just shy of $400. Without enhanced subsidies, the annual premium cost would be about $850.
Tom Banning, the CEO of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians, said in an email that the federal subsidies have so far protected Texans from the rising price of individual health insurance.
“But with those credits set to expire at the end of 2025,” Banning wrote, “Texans who buy their own coverage … are about to get financially crushed.”
Rising premiums
The anticipated expiration of the subsidies is also part of the calculation for marketplace insurers themselves.
Marketplace insurers are requesting the largest premium increases since 2018. That’s according to an analysis posted last week by the Peterson Center on Healthcare and KFF, which pulled data from 19 states, including Texas, plus Washington, D.C.
Across the available data, which is preliminary and subject to change, the 2026 premiums are forecast to increase by a median 15%. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas proposed a rate increase of 21%, according to McGough at KFF.
The projected increases are partly an indication of insurers’ uncertainty, McGough said, as they face federal changes they’ve never dealt with before.
To explain the anticipated rate increases, individual insurers pointed to factors such as rising health care costs, including the added costs of GLP-1s, and tariffs.
But the expiration of the enhanced federal subsidies will make a significant dent, too. Insurers predict that enrollees who skew healthier may drop their plans if the subsidies expire — meaning the insurers would then raise premiums for the remaining enrollees.
Banning said in an email that enough dropouts could trigger a “death spiral” for marketplace insurance, with ever-rising prices leading to ever-increasing dropouts.
Low-income Texans would be especially hard-hit by subsidies expiring and premiums increasing. If Texans do forego marketplace coverage as a result, they may join the ranks of the uninsured, who are more likely to delay medical care and more likely to die from health issues.
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