Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) offers a free 24-hour, 7 days a week Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-283-3221. Help is available in both English and Spanish.
When will my Health First Colorado card arrive?
Your Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) card should arrive within two weeks after qualifying. Your card will be sent to the address on your application. You can also access your Health First Colorado card from PEAK. Even if you did not apply online through PEAK, you can still create an account and print your card. You should always bring your photo ID with you when you see your health care provider or go to the pharmacy. You do not need a copy of your Health First Colorado card to get medical services.
You can also view your Health First Colorado card from the Health First Colorado mobile app.
If I disagree with a decision about whether I qualify for Health First Colorado, can I appeal?
Yes, you have 60 days from the date on your Notice of Action to ask for an informal meeting with the eligibility site and a state fair hearing. The Notice of Action is the letter that has the decision you disagree with.
For more information about appeals, go to How to appeal a health coverage or benefits decision. Or follow the instructions on your Notice of Action on how to appeal the decision.
How can members stay up to date on all the changes?
Health First Colorado will share information about the work requirements with members by mail, text and email. We will also partner with providers and community-based organizations to make sure people understand the new requirements.
Members can stay up to date by subscribing to the Health First Colorado newsletter (a monthly email) and opting into digital notifications on the Health First Colorado app. They can also follow us on social media and check the Health First Colorado website for news updates.
How and when will Health First Colorado let me know if I need to meet the new requirement to keep my health coverage?
Health First Colorado will mail letters to members affected by the new work requirements ahead of time, starting in August 2026.
These letters will tell you:
- Instructions on how to share proof that you’ve met the requirements or that you are exempt.
- Information about what activities count towards the 80-hour work requirements.
Will Health First Colorado still cover my medical bills before I’m officially enrolled?
- Starting in January 2027, low-income adults ages 19–64 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) who are applying for Health First Colorado will only receive one month of retroactive coverage instead of three. This means that if you qualify and enroll in Health First Colorado, we can cover your qualifying medical bills the month before you applied but no earlier.
- Children age 18 and younger, adults age 65 and older and people enrolled in long-term services and supports [LTSS] or buy-in programs will receive 2 months of coverage prior to their application.
I’m an immigrant. Can I keep my Health First Colorado coverage?
Starting in October 2026, some immigrants who qualified for coverage will no longer be able to receive Health First Colorado benefits. This includes refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian groups.
These immigrants will still qualify for Health First Colorado and CHP+:
- Members who meet the definition of lawful permanent resident (“green card” holders)
- Certain Cuban and Haitian immigrants
- Citizens of the Freely Associated States (COFA migrants) lawfully residing in the U.S.
- Lawfully residing children and pregnant adults in states that cover them under the Immigrant Children’s Health Improvement Act (ICHIA) option.
What is the 6-month eligibility check and who does it impact?
As of January 2027, if you are an adult age 19 to 64 and earn up to 133% of the federal poverty level (calculator), you will have to complete the renewal process twice a year instead of once a year. Only American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) who qualify for Indian Health Services (IHS) are exempt from this provision.
How will I submit documents to show I have met the new work requirements?
You should be able to use all the current channels (Colorado PEAK, Health First Colorado app, mail, in-person drop-off) to submit proof that you’ve met the new requirements.
We will update these FAQs as the information becomes available.
I just lost my job and my employer-sponsored insurance. How do I show I have met the new work requirements when I apply for Health First Colorado?
If work requirements apply to you and you are applying for Health First Colorado for the first time, you must meet the requirement unless you qualify for an exemption. This means that in the month before you apply, you need to show proof that you either earned at least $580 or completed at least 80 hours of work, job training, volunteering, school, or a combination of these.
We expect the federal government to provide final details on this topic by June 2026. We will update these FAQs when information becomes available.