Colorado Claims Compliance

Key regulatory requirements, correspondence deadlines, and mandated forms for Colorado (CO).

Quick Reference

Key Deadlines

Acknowledgment
REASONABLE
Accept/Deny
60 calendar days
Investigation
60 calendar days
Payment
60 calendar days
Status Updates
No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found

Requirements

  • Mandated Forms
  • Catastrophe Rules
  • Separate P&C / Life & Health
  • Fraud Warning
  • Depreciation Notice
  • E-Delivery (with_consent)

Regulatory Authority

Colorado Division of Insurance (Department of Regulatory Agencies)

1560 Broadway, Suite 850, Denver, CO 80202; Phone: 303-894-7490 or 800-930-3745; Email: dora_insurance@state.co.us; Website: https://doi.colorado.gov/for-consumers/file-a-complaint

Bad Faith: C.R.S. § 10-3-1115; C.R.S. § 10-3-1116

Key Statutes

  • C.R.S. § 10-3-1100 et seq.
  • 3 CCR 702-5-1-14
  • C.R.S. § 10-4-110.8
Last reviewed: April 1, 2026

Colorado handles claims correspondence according to specific state regulations. Requirements vary depending on the line of business and specific claim circumstances.

Acknowledgment

Every claim must be acknowledged within a reasonable time of receipt. The acknowledgment should identify the insurance policy and coverage at issue.

Denial

A written denial must be issued within 60 calendar days. The denial must reference the specific policy provisions, conditions, or exclusions relied upon.

Statutory Language

Specific fraud warning and DOI contact info required (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-3-1104).

LOB-Specific Requirements

Regulatory requirements for Colorado, grouped by line of business. Select a chip to filter.

Unfair Claims Practices Act RefStatutory
C.R.S. § 10-3-1104(1)(h)
Prompt Payment Statute RefStatutory
C.R.S. § 10-3-1115; C.R.S. § 10-3-1116
HO Specific RequirementsStatutory
In the event of a total loss, insurers must allow the policyholder at least 365 days after the claim to submit an inventory, and at least 365 days after the expiration of ALE to replace property and receive recoverable depreciation (C.R.S. § 10-4-110.8(11)(c))
Catastrophe ProvisionsStatutory
3 CCR 702-5-1-22 tolls certain time limits for policyholder benefits in the event of a catastrophic disaster
Depreciation Notice Required
Yes
Proof Of Loss RequirementsStatutory
In the event of a total loss of contents of an owner-occupied primary residence, the insurer must offer a minimum of 30 percent of the contents coverage value without requiring submittal of a written inventory (C.R.S. § 10-4-110.8(11)(a))
Suit Limitation PeriodStatutory
Cannot be shorter than required by the applicable statute of limitations provided by law (C.R.S. § 10-4-110.8(12)(b))

Colorado Case Law

Published decisions that shape claim-handling and correspondence practice in Colorado. Pair these with the statutory deadlines above.

StatutoryCase LawReg. Bulletin

  • Farmers Group, Inc. v. Trimble

    691 P.2d 1138 (1984)

    Case Law
    Bad FaithCommercial Property

    . Justia. Available at: `https://law.justia.com/cases/colorado/supreme-court/1984/82sc358-0.html`

  • Schultz v. GEICO

    2018

    Case Law
    Bad FaithGeneral Liability

    the Supreme Court ruled that an insurer commits bad faith if it denies a claim without sufficient medical evidence and then attempts to manufacture that evidence (via a post-litigation Independent Medical Examination) to justify the prior denial .

  • Skillett v. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co

    2022

    Case Law
    Status UpdatesProfessional Liability

    that while the insurance company can be held liable for statutory bad faith (unreasonable delay or denial of benefits) under C.R.S. §§ 10-3-1115 and 1116, the individual insurance adjuster cannot be held personally liable under those statutes . The penalty and the duty rest strictly with the corporate entity engaged in the business of insurance .

  • Vaccaro v. American Family

    2012

    Case Law
    Bad FaithGeneral Liability

    the court rejected the insurer's attempt to frame every lowball offer as a "genuine valuation dispute" that would automatically insulate it from bad faith under the "fairly debatable" doctrine .

Historical court cases are for reference only and may be superseded, distinguished, or abrogated.

Applicable Letter Templates

No letter templates currently found for this jurisdiction.