Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program)

The normal Medicaid renewal process is starting in May.

Make sure your contact information is up to date one of three ways:

Visit Colorado.gov/PEAK
Use the Health First Colorado app on your phone
Boulder County Housing and Human Services
- Phone: 303-441-1000 or Text: 303-441-1069

VIDEO: How to update mailing address and communication preferences online English | Spanish

Complete your Medicaid Renewal

If one or more household members do not automatically renew for Health First Colorado, you will need to take action on your Medicaid renewal.

Step 1: Health First Colorado will mail the yearly renewal materials to you and/or your family members 60 days before your redetermination date. It is important that your current contact information is up to date so you can receive these materials. This packet can be completed by mail, dropped off in person, online or over the phone.

Step 2: Fill out, sign and return the forms, along with any extra required information. All information must be completed by the deadline provided to avoid losing coverage.

To find your renewal date:

You can find your renewal due date on CO.gov/PEAK at any time.
Log in to PEAK. You will be on the Dashboard.
On the main navigation, choose “Manage my benefits” then “Overview of health coverage benefits.”
Find renewal due dates for each household member under “Summary of health coverage benefits.”

VIDEO: How the Medicaid and CHP+ Renewal Process Works English | Spanish

Options if you no longer qualify for Medicaid

Your employer– check to learn about options, rules and deadlines
A family member’s health insurance– such as a spouse or parent if you are 25 or younger
Connect for Health Colorado – Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace. You might qualify for financial assistance to reduce the cost of your premium.
- Get help applying: https://connectforhealthco.com/we-can-help/.
Medicare – for people age 65 or older or people under 65 with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease
- For answers to Medicare related questions call 303-441-1546.
- Online classes: www.boco.org/medicare
Veterans https://www.va.gov/health-care/ or Active Military https://www.tricare.mil/

If you no longer qualify because you missed the deadline to respond, you can re-apply for Health First Colorado.

About Medicaid

Health First Colorado is public health insurance coverage for children, families, pregnant women, adults, the elderly, and people with disabilities. There are several different programs. When you apply for Health First Colorado, your eligibility will be determined based on the information you put in your application. Your age, family size, income and other information asked for in the application are used to ensure you are enrolled in the program that best meets your needs.

To be eligible for Health First Colorado you must be a US Citizen or eligible immigrant, a Colorado resident, and meet program specific income requirements. Some categories will consider resources.

For more information visit Health First Colorado. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is the state agency that administers Health First Colorado, the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and other healthcare programs for Coloradans who qualify.

Health First Colorado Dental Providers Directory

Eligible adults enrolled in Health First Colorado in Colorado now have access to up to $1,000 per year in preventive dental care.

Eligibility

Health First Colorado program, who might be eligible?

Individuals and families who meet income limits
Children under 19
Pregnant Women
Adults ages 19-64
Children with a disability
People ages 16-64 who are working and have a disability
People who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
- If you receive SSI, then you will automatically receive Health First Colorado. If you receive SSI and have not been enrolled in Health First Colorado, please contact your local county department of human/social services.
- If you have not yet applied for SSI, you should apply at a Social Security Administration (SSA) office.
People who receive Old Age Pension (OAP) grants who do not qualify for other Health First Colorado programs. This program provides limited medical care only.

If you need nursing home or home and community based services (HCBS), please see below for information about Long-term Care Medicaid.

People Age 65 and Over: People age 65 or older who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Old Age Pension (OAP) state supplemental payments are eligible for Health First Colorado.

If you have not applied for SSI you should at a Social Security Administration field office.
If you are on SSI and have not been enrolled in Health First Colorado or if you have not applied for OAP please contact Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services at 303-441-1000.

Health Care Options

Other Health Care Options

If you are denied Health First Colorado coverage, you may be eligible for other health care programs.

Connect for Health Colorado is a new online health insurance marketplace that opened on October 1, 2013. This marketplace is sometimes referred to as the “health insurance exchange.” Individuals, families and small employers can shop for and buy health insurance through the Connect for Health Colorado website. Boulder County is a Certified Connect for Health Colorado Assistance Site and has trained Health Coverage Guides to help residents enroll in health insurance. Call 303-441-1000 or email healthcoverage@bouldercounty.org for more information or to make an appointment with a Health Coverage Guide.
Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) – a low-cost health insurance program for uninsured Colorado children ages 18 and under whose families earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado.
Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) is a discount rate offered at some clinics and hospitals for eligible Colorado residents.

How to Apply

There are several ways to apply for benefits. Once you apply, we will contact you for a required interview.

Select the one option that is best for you:

Electronically:

Apply using the secure online form
Apply online at Colorado PEAK

Paper:

Download and complete an application and:
Email a scanned copy or pictures: imaging@bouldercounty.org
Fax: (303) 441-1523
Mail or Drop Box:
- Housing & Human Services, 515 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO 80501
- 3460 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304

Now that you’ve applied for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) you probably have questions. What happens next? What’s covered? How do I get care? This Guide to Medicaid and CHP+ will answer your questions