Who should not have to meet work requirements?

People who meet any of the following criteria should not have to meet the work requirement. 

  • Children 18 and younger
  • Adults 65 and older
  • Parents, guardians, caretaker relatives or family caregivers responsible for a child aged 13 or younger
  • Parents, guardians, caretaker relatives or family caregivers responsible for caring for a person of any age, who has a disability
  • Veterans with a service-connected disability that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has determined to be total and permanent
  • People who qualify or are enrolled in Medicare
  • People enrolled in a long-term services and supports (LTSS) program
  • People enrolled in Medicaid buy-in programs (Working Adults or Children’s)
  • People who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Administration (SSA) income, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Social Security Retirement (SSR)
  • Former foster care youth age 19 to 26
  • Current Health First Colorado members who are pregnant and some members who were pregnant within the last 12 months
  • American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) who qualify for Indian Health Services (IHS) 
  • People who are medically frail. A medically frail person has significant health needs, such as a disabling mental health condition, substance use disorder, or other complex medical condition that limits daily functioning or requires ongoing medical care.
  • People enrolled in treatment or rehab for a mental health or substance use disorder
  • People living in a jail, prison or some halfway houses, now or in the past 3 months
  • People who comply with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Colorado’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work requirements.
    • People with SNAP or TANF who fail to comply with their work requirement must comply with Health First Colorado’s work requirement to keep their health coverage.

If Health First Colorado needs more information to decide if you must meet work requirements, we will send you a letter. Open and respond to letters from Health First Colorado right away.

Use our screener tool to find out if you might be affected by Medicaid work requirements. (Please note: the screener tool is only an estimate. It is not an official application or eligibility decision.)

I am applying for Health First Colorado health coverage for the first time. Do I need to meet the new work requirements?

If you are a low-income adult age 19–64 and not enrolled in a long-term care services or buy-in program and you do not show that you qualify for an exemption, then you must meet work requirements.

Example: If you apply for health coverage in February 2027, you will need to show proof that you worked, participated in a work program, volunteered or went to school at least 80 hours per month (or a mix of these) in January 2027.

When do the work requirements start?

Health First Colorado will implement H.R. 1’s new work requirements by Jan. 1, 2027.

These requirements will apply to: 

Existing members need to show at renewal that they met the work requirement by earning at least $580 or working, participating in a work program, volunteering or going to school (or a mix of these) at least 80 hours for at least 1 of the months within their 6-month renewal period.

New applicants will need to show that they met the work requirements by earning at least $580 or working, participating in a work program, volunteering or going to school at least 80 hours (or a mix of these) in the month before they submit their application.

Renewals for this group of adults will change to every 6 months, instead of once a year.

What are the new work requirements for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and who needs to meet them?

As of January 2027, some adults ages 19 to 64 who are not enrolled in certain programs (such as long-term services and supports [LTSS] or buy-in programs) must show they meet new work requirements, or that they are exempt.

Not all Health First Colorado members subject to the new work requirements will need to show proof right away. 

  • Current members will need to show at renewal that they met the requirement in at least one of the previous six months. Ways to meet the requirement include: 
    • Completing 80 hours of approved activities: working, participating in a work program, volunteering or going to school (or a mix of these)
    • Earning at least $580 from paid work
    • Showing documentation that they meet an exemption and do not need to meet the requirement 
  • New applicants will need to complete paperwork to show they met the work requirement in the month before they submit their application for Health First Colorado. Ways to meet the requirement include:
    • Completing 80 hours of approved activities: working, participating in a work program, volunteering or going to school (or a mix of these)
    • Earning at least $580 from paid work
    • Showing documentation that they meet an exemption and do not need to meet the requirement

Example: If your renewal is due March 2027, you will need to show proof that you have earned $580 or worked, participated in a work program, volunteered or went to school  (or a mix of these) at least 80 hours during one of the months within your 6-month renewal period. (September through February).