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 (Colorado’s Medicaid program) will mail letters to members affected by the new work requirements ahead of time, starting in September 2026.
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 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
These immigrants may qualify for Health First Colorado and CHP+:
- 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
- Pregnant women, or pregnant within the last 12 months
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?
You may need to comply with work requirements if
- You are an adult age 19 to 64
- Are not enrolled in LTSS or buy-in program, and
- Do not have an approved reason for not complying with work requirements
To comply with work requirements, first time applicants will need to show in the calendar month before they submit their application, 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.