Colorado Medicaid

Last verified: June 2026

What is Health First Colorado?

Health First Colorado is Colorado's Medicaid program. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) administers it. As of April 2026, 1,242,258 Coloradans are enrolled in Health First Colorado — approximately 21% of the state's population. An additional 70,731 are enrolled in Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), Colorado's CHIP program.

Colorado expanded Medicaid under the ACA in 2014. Health First Colorado does not use traditional managed care organizations. Instead, Colorado operates a regional care coordination model through Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs). RAEs coordinate physical health, behavioral health, and pharmacy benefits for members across seven geographic regions. This replaces the model used in most states where separate MCOs hold insurance risk.

Health First Colorado covers physical health, dental, behavioral health, and vision. All benefits are delivered with no co-pays for most services. Emergency room visits have an $8 co-pay if the visit is determined to not be an emergency (not applicable to children under 19 or pregnant members).

Who qualifies for Health First Colorado?

Eligibility depends on income, Colorado residency, and citizenship or immigration status. Per HCPF, the main eligibility groups are:

• Adults ages 19–64: at or below 138% FPL (ACA expansion group)
• Children up to age 19: up to 260% FPL — same application process as adults
• Pregnant people: up to 195% FPL for full Health First Colorado coverage; 12 months continuous postpartum coverage
• Seniors 65 and older: separate financial eligibility rules apply, including asset tests
• People with disabilities: SSI recipients are automatically eligible; others may qualify with income/asset documentation
• Children with complex health needs may qualify for HCBS waivers with additional support services

Source: HCPF Health First Colorado and CHP+ eligibility documentation. Income limits reflect 2026 FPL figures. Verify current thresholds at healthfirstcolorado.com or peak.colorado.gov.

Colorado's RAE model: how care coordination works

Colorado's Regional Accountable Entities coordinate care but do not take insurance risk the way traditional MCOs do. Instead, Health First Colorado members receive their medical care from any participating provider and their RAE connects them with a primary care provider, manages referrals, and coordinates behavioral health access.

Members find their RAE by checking their Health First Colorado member card or logging into PEAK at peak.colorado.gov. Changing primary care providers can be done directly through the PEAK portal or by calling the Member Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943.

Colorado Medicaid topics

What does Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) cover?

Medicaid covers a broad range of health services. Federal law mandates certain benefits — inpatient and outpatient hospital care, physician services, lab work, X-rays, and nursing facility services, among others. States add optional services on top of those. Dental, vision, and long-term home care coverage vary by state.

The national benefits overview lists required and commonly optional services. Check the Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) website for the current state-specific benefit package.

How to apply

Most people can apply online through Colorado's Medicaid portal, by phone, or in person at a local eligibility office. The how to apply page walks through each method, what documents you'll need, and what to expect during the review period.

Under 42 CFR 435.912, states must process most standard Medicaid applications within 45 days (90 days for disability-based applications). Colorado must follow that federal timeline.