Changes are coming to Colorado Medicaid

Starting October 1, 2026, only certain lawfully present immigrants can qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+.

These immigrants may qualify:

• U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals
• Lawful Permanent Resident status holders (LPR/Green Card) who meet the 5-year requirement
• Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau who are living in one of the U.S states or territories (referred to as Compact of Free Association or COFA migrants)
• Certain Cuban or Haitian entrants
• Children under age 19
• Women who were pregnant within the last 12 months, or are currently pregnant

Members of the Cover All Coloradans program will continue to qualify for Health First Colorado and CHP+.

Starting in October 2026, these immigrants will no longer be able to receive Health First Colorado and CHP+ benefits:

• Refugees and asylees
• People granted humanitarian parole, such as certain Afghans who aided U.S. military operations in Afghanistan or people fleeing violence in Ukraine
• People granted withholding of removal
• Survivors of domestic violence with a pending or approved application under the Violence Against Women Act
• Survivors of trafficking with a pending or approved application for a victim of trafficking visa
• Members of a U.S. federally recognized Indian tribe or American Indian born in Canada
• Refugees who have a “conditional entrant” status granted before 1980

What you can do now

• Check this website and your mail for details on how this policy will be implemented in Colorado.

In September and November 2026, Health First Colorado will mail letters to members who must complete work requirements, also known as community engagement requirements, to keep or receive their health coverage.

In January 2027, Health First Colorado will mail letters to members with a March 2027 renewal date. If a member is subject to work requirements, they will have to show that they comply or prove they do not have to comply to keep or receive their health coverage.

Starting January 1, 2027,  adults ages 19 to 64 not enrolled in a LTSS or buy-in program must comply with the work requirements when applying for or renewing their coverage. If this rule applies to you, Health First Colorado will send you a letter.

Who must comply with work requirements:

Adults ages 19 to 64 who are applying for or renewing their coverage who

• Are not enrolled in LTSS or buy-in program, and
• Do not show that they comply with any of the approved reasons listed directly below

Who does not need to comply with work requirements:

Age

• Children 18 or younger
• Adults 65 or older

Caregivers

• Parents, guardians or caretaker relatives or family caregivers for a child 13 or younger
• Parents, guardians or caretaker relatives or family caregivers responsible for caring for a person of any age who has a disability

Living situation

• People living in a jail, prison or some halfway houses, now or in the past 3 months

Pregnancy

• Current Health First Colorado members who were pregnant within the last 12 months, or are currently pregnant

Medical conditions

• People enrolled in a LTSS program
• People enrolled in Medicaid  buy-in programs (Working Adults or Children's)
• Veterans with a service-connected disability that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has determined to be total and permanent
• People who are medically frail. A person is considered medically frail if they:
  • Are blind or have a disability
  • Have a substance use disorder
  • Have a disabling mental health condition
  • Have a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability that makes it hard to do daily activities
  • Have a serious or complex medical condition
• People enrolled in treatment or rehab for a mental health or substance use disorder
• People who qualify or are enrolled in Medicare
• People who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Administration (SSA) income, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Population

• American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) who qualify for Indian Health Services (IHS)
• Former foster youth age 19 to 26

How to complete the work requirements if they apply to you

You can comply with work requirements by either completing 80 hours of approved activities or earning at least $580 from paid work or a combination of these.

• First time applicants: In the calendar month before they submit their application, will need to show that they
  • earned at least $580, or
  • spent at least 80 hours working, going to school, participating in a work program, volunteering, or a combination of these activities
• Current members who are renewing: In at least 1 calendar month since their last renewal deadline, will need to show they
  • earned at least $580 or
  • spent at least 80 hours, going to school, participating in a work program, volunteering, or a combination of these activities

What activities count towards complying with the work requirement

Complete 80 hours of one (or a mix) of the following activities:

⚠️ If you do not comply with these requirements or renew on time, you may lose your health coverage.

What you can do now

• Please respond to any letter that asks for more information by the deadline in the letter.
• Make sure your address and contact information is always up to date. Contact your county or update your information on the Health First Colorado app or at CO.gov/PEAK.
• Keep all your other household information up to date. Contact your county or update your information on the Health First Colorado app or at CO.gov/PEAK.

Starting January 1, 2027, some adults ages 19 to 64 will have their eligibility checked every six months instead of once a year.

Who must comply with 6-month renewals:

• Adults (age 19 to 64) who earn up to 133% of the federal poverty level (up to $20,815 per year for a single individual or $42,760 per year for a family of four).

⚠️ If you do not renew on time, you may lose your health coverage.

Who does not need to comply with 6-month renewals:

• American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) who qualify for Indian Health Services (IHS)