Medicaid Work Requirements: What to Know

Starting Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, some adults will need to meet work requirements to get or keep Health First Colorado, Colorado’s Medicaid program. In letters from Health First Colorado, you may see work requirements called “community engagement.”

To meet work requirements, you will need to show one of these:

Your household earns at least $580 a month from paid work
You go to school at least half time
You spend at least 80 hours a month working, volunteering, going to school, or in a work program

You do not need to meet work requirements if you have an approved reason not to, also called an exemption.

The rules can be hard to follow. The best way to find out if they apply to you is to use Health First Colorado’s screener.

Check if work requirements apply to you

The screener gives general guidance only. It does not decide if you can get Health First Colorado. If you are still not sure after using it, apply or renew anyway.

If work requirements apply to you and you do not meet them or show you have an approved reason, you could lose your coverage.

For more information, see our Answers to Common Questions.

Need help applying or renewing?

Don’t let these changes stop you from applying or renewing. Apply or renew even if you are not sure you qualify. Boulder County Human Services staff know these rules and can help you apply or renew. You can find our phone number, text line, and office locations at the bottom of this page.

Who do work requirements apply to?

Work requirements apply to some adults ages 19 to 64 who get Health First Colorado. They do not apply to everyone in that age group.

They do not apply to you if you have Medicare, get Long-Term Services and Supports, or are in a buy-in program. You also do not have to meet it if you have an approved reason.

How do I know if I need to meet work requirements?

Work requirements apply to some adults ages 19 to 64 who get Health First Colorado. They do not apply to everyone in that age group.

Work requirements do not apply to you if you have Medicare, get Long-Term Services and Supports, or are in a buy-in program.

In fall 2026, Health First Colorado sent letters to members who may need to meet work requirements. Getting a letter does not always mean work requirements apply to you.

To find out if work requirements apply to you:

Use Health First Colorado’s screener to check if work requirements apply to you. The screener gives general guidance only. It does not decide if you can get Health First Colorado.
Read and respond to every letter you get from Health First Colorado in 2027, even if you think work requirements do not apply to you.
Make sure Health First Colorado has your current address, phone number, and email. You can update them in Colorado PEAK.

You may not need to meet work requirements if you have an approved reason not to meet them, also called an exemption.

Who does not need to meet work requirements?

Even if you get Health First Colorado, you may not need to meet work requirements. If you have an approved reason not to meet work requirements, you are exempt. This means work requirements do not apply to you.

Health First Colorado will use the information it already has to check for approved reasons. If more information is needed, you’ll be sent a letter.

You do not need to meet work requirements if you are:

Already meeting work requirements for SNAP or Colorado Works

You may get food benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Or you may get cash help through Colorado Works, also called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). If you meet the work requirements for either program, you also meet Health First Colorado’s work requirements. You do not need to do both.

If you do not meet your SNAP or Colorado Works work requirements, you will need to meet Health First Colorado’s work requirements to keep your health coverage.

Pregnant now or in the last 12 months

This applies to current Health First Colorado members. If you are pregnant, or were pregnant in the last 12 months, you do not need to meet work requirements.

A parent or caregiver of a child 13 or younger

This includes parents, guardians, and relatives who care for the child, as well as family caregivers.

A caregiver for someone with a disability

This includes parents, guardians, relatives, and family caregivers who are responsible for caring for a person with a disability. The person can be any age.

In foster care at age 18 and younger than 26 now

If you were in foster care when you turned 18 and you are now younger than 26, you do not need to meet work requirements.

A veteran with a 100% disability rating

This applies if you have a disability related to your military service and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs gave you one of these:

A 100% disability rating, either temporary or permanent
A Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability rating, even if your combined rating is below 100%

In a treatment program for a drug or alcohol disorder

If you are in a treatment program for a drug or alcohol disorder, you do not need to meet work requirements.

Living with a health condition that limits your work, school, or volunteering

This applies if you have one of these conditions and it keeps you from doing 80 hours a month of work, school, or volunteering:

A drug or alcohol use disorder, also called a substance use disorder
Recovery from a drug or alcohol use disorder for five years or less
A physical, intellectual, or developmental disability that makes daily activities hard, such as eating, bathing, walking, or getting out of a bed or chair
A disabling mental health disorder, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, or panic disorder
A serious health condition that needs regular treatment, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV, AIDS, or viral hepatitis
Blindness

The federal law calls this being “medically frail.”

Living in a hospital or long-term care facility now or in the past three months

People living in a hospital, nursing home, or other long-term care facility now or in the past three months do not need to meet work requirements. This also applies if you get long-term care services, such as care in a nursing home or at home.

American Indian or Alaska Native

If you are American Indian or Alaska Native and can get care through the Indian Health Service, you do not need to meet work requirements.

In jail, prison, or some halfway houses now, or in the past three months

If you live in a jail, prison, or some halfway houses, you do not need to meet work requirements. This also applies for three months after you leave.

How do I meet work requirements?

If you are not exempt, you can meet work requirements in one of three ways:

Have household income of at least $580 a month
Go to school at least half time
Spend at least 80 hours a month on work or other activities

You only need to do one of these. You do not need to do all three.

Household income of at least $580 a month

If your household income is at least $580 in a month, you meet work requirements. If you do seasonal work, your income can be averaged over six months.

This includes income from all jobs, gig work, and self-employment. Report your jobs and all your income on your application and renewal.

The $580 amount is not an income limit for Health First Colorado. Find out who qualifies for Health First Colorado.

Going to school at least half time

If you go to school full time or at least half time, you meet work requirements. This includes college, vocational school, or a GED program. Each school or program decides how many hours count as half time.

Report that you are a student on your application and renewal.

The student rules for Health First Colorado work requirements are different from the student rules for SNAP and Colorado Works.

At least 80 hours a month of work or other activities

You meet work requirements if you spend at least 80 hours a month on one or more of these activities:

A job or internship
Self-employment or gig work
A work program
Volunteering, community service, or unpaid work
Going to school less than half time

You can combine activities. For example, 50 hours at a job and 30 hours of volunteering add up to 80 hours.

You will need to tell Health First Colorado how many hours you spent on each activity. Your hours must add up to at least 80 for the month you report.

Which month do I report?

When you apply for the first time, you will need to show one of these for the calendar month before you apply:

Your household earned at least $580
You went to school at least half time
You spent at least 80 hours working, going to school, in a work program, volunteering, or a combination of these

When you renew, report how you met work requirements in any one month since your last application or renewal. You choose the month.

If Health First Colorado needs proof, it will send you a letter. The letter will tell you and the organization you work or volunteer with how to send proof.

Find your renewal date and renew your coverage in Colorado PEAK.

How often do I need to renew my coverage?

Starting Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, many adults ages 19 to 64 on Health First Colorado will need to renew their coverage every six months instead of once a year. This includes some people who do not need to meet work requirements.

You will still renew once a year if you are:

18 or younger
65 or older
Pregnant or were pregnant in the last 12 months
A parent or caretaker relative with very low income
Getting Long-Term Services and Supports
In a buy-in program
Getting Health First Colorado because of blindness or a disability

Read and respond to every letter you get from Health First Colorado. Find your renewal date in Colorado PEAK.

What proof do I need to show?

If you have an approved reason not to meet work requirements

You do not need to send documents about your approved reason with your application or renewal. Health First Colorado will check records it already has, such as food benefit, health, or veterans records. If Health First Colorado needs something from you, it will send you a letter.

If you don’t have proof of your approved reason, apply or renew anyway, and report your approved reason. Health First Colorado will check the records it already has before asking you for anything else.

If you meet work requirements

You do not need to send documents about your work or other activities with your application or renewal. This includes volunteering and community service. Health First Colorado will check records it already has, such as wage and school records. If Health First Colorado needs something from you, it will send you a letter.

Watch for letters

Keep your address up to date so you get these letters. You can also check for messages in your Colorado PEAK Mailbox. Go to Colorado PEAK to update your address and check your messages.

How do I report my work activities or approved reason?

If you are applying for Health First Colorado

Starting Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, the application will ask about your work activities or approved reason not to meet work requirements. You answer these questions on the application. You do not need to fill out a separate form.

If you are approved, you will report your work activities or approved reason each time you renew, unless your coverage renews automatically.

If you already have Health First Colorado

Starting with renewals sent in January 2027, your renewal will ask about your work activities or approved reason not to meet work requirements. You answer these questions on the renewal. You do not need to fill out a separate form.

If your household income was at least $580 in any month since your last renewal, you meet work requirements. Just report your household income on your renewal as usual.

You may get a letter from Health First Colorado with your renewal saying you have not met work requirements. If so, don’t panic. Fill out your renewal completely. Include your work hours, income, school, and any approved reason.

If Health First Colorado needs more information before or after your renewal, it will send you a letter with instructions and a deadline. Follow the instructions by the deadline. If you miss it, you could lose your coverage.

If something changes

Report any changes before your next renewal. This includes changes to:

Your address, phone number, or email
Your job or work hours
Who lives in your home, including if someone is pregnant

Keeping your information up to date can help your coverage renew automatically.

You can report changes in any of these ways:

Update your information in Colorado PEAK. This is the fastest way.
Use the free Health First Colorado app on your phone.
Contact Boulder County at 303-441-1000 or text us at 303-441-1069

Answers to Common Questions

For Current Health First Colorado Members

Will I lose my coverage?

Health First Colorado will not end your coverage without warning. If work requirements apply to you and Health First Colorado does not have the information it needs, it will send you a letter. The letter will give you a chance to report your work activities or approved reason not to meet work requirements. If you do not respond by the deadline, you could lose your coverage.

Do I need to report work activities or an approved reason for every month?

No. You only need to report one month between renewals, and you choose the month. Many members will now renew every six months instead of once a year.

How will I know if work requirements apply to me?

In fall 2026, Health First Colorado sent letters to members who may need to meet work requirements. Getting a letter does not always mean work requirements apply to you. Check if work requirements apply to you.

Work requirements start Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. You do not need to show anything right away. You will report at your next renewal.

For example, if your renewal is due in March 2027, you will need to show one of these for one month since your last renewal:

Your household earned at least $580
You went to school at least half time
You spent at least 80 hours working, in a work program, volunteering, going to school, or a combination of these

What do I need to do right now?

You do not need to report anything before your next renewal. But now is a good time to:

Check if work requirements apply to you.
Make sure Health First Colorado has your current address, phone number, and email.
Think about how you could meet work requirements if you do not have an approved reason and are not meeting them now.

I think I have an approved reason not to meet work requirements. Do I still need to do anything?

You do not need to do anything before your next renewal unless your situation changes. When you renew, report any approved reason you have.

I get SNAP food benefits. Do I need to meet work requirements for both programs?

No. If you meet SNAP work requirements, you also meet Health First Colorado’s work requirements. The same is true for Colorado Works. Health First Colorado will check this automatically. We’ll reach out more if we need more proof.

I get Colorado Works benefits. Do I need to meet work requirements for both programs?

No. Colorado Works is also called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). If you meet Colorado Works work requirements, you also meet Health First Colorado’s work requirements. The same is true for SNAP. Health First Colorado will check this automatically. If it needs proof, it will send you a letter.

How can I get ready for these changes?

Report any changes to your address, job, or who lives in your home. Update your information in Colorado PEAK.
Watch for letters from Health First Colorado. Fill out and return any paperwork by the deadline.

How do I get updates about work requirements?

Health First Colorado will send you a letter or an online notice about any changes. You can also check this page for updates.

For People Applying for Health First Colorado

If I apply for Health First Colorado for the first time, do work requirements apply to me?

They may. Starting Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, the application will ask questions to find out if work requirements apply to you and if you already meet them. Check if work requirements apply to you.

If work requirements apply to you and Health First Colorado needs more information, it will send you a letter.

How many months do I need to report when I apply?

One. You must meet work requirements the month before you apply.

What if I can't meet work requirements right now?

You may have an approved reason not to meet them. Many common situations count, such as being pregnant or caring for a child 13 or younger. See who does not need to meet work requirements. If you are not sure, apply anyway.

Contact Us

Human Services

Phone: 303-441-1000
TTY: 1-800-659-3656
Fax: 303-441-1523

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 471
Boulder, CO 80306

Boulder Location

3460 Broadway, Boulder
Fax: 720-564-2283
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday/Wednesday/Friday

Longmont Location

515 Coffman St., Longmont
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Lafayette Location

1755 S. Public Road, Lafayette
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday/Thursday
Closed 1-2 p.m. for lunch.