How to renew your Colorado Medicaid coverage

Last verified: June 2026

Renewal notices come from Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid)

Always respond to official renewal notices from Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid). Missing a renewal deadline is the most common reason people lose Medicaid coverage — even when they're still eligible.

Respond to your Health First Colorado renewal notice within 60 days to keep your coverage

Colorado sends renewal (redetermination) notices before your annual review. Respond within the deadline shown on your notice — typically 60 days. Members who don't respond may lose coverage. Renew at peak.colorado.gov or call 1-800-221-3943.

How Colorado renews Health First Colorado coverage

Colorado reviews Health First Colorado and CHP+ eligibility every 12 months through a redetermination. Colorado first attempts ex parte renewal — checking Colorado wage records, tax data, and federal data sources to verify continued eligibility without requiring action from the member.

If Colorado can confirm eligibility through ex parte data, the member receives an automatic renewal notice. No action is needed.

If Colorado cannot complete ex parte renewal, a renewal packet is sent to the member's address on file. Members typically have 60 days to respond. Failure to respond results in coverage termination at the end of the renewal period.

How to complete your Health First Colorado renewal

Online (PEAK portal)

Log into your account at peak.colorado.gov. Renew online, upload documents, and track the status of your renewal in real time.

PEAK mobile app

Use the PEAK mobile app (iOS and Android) to renew from your phone. Scan and upload documents using your phone's camera.

By phone

Call HCPF at 1-800-221-3943 (TTY: 711) or your local county human services office to renew by phone.

In person (county office)

Visit your county human services department. Colorado has 64 county offices. Find yours at cdhs.colorado.gov or call HCPF.

Documents you may need for renewal

Proof of income — recent pay stubs, employer letter, or self-employment records
Proof of Colorado residency — utility bill, lease, or mail at current address
Social Security numbers for household members
Household composition changes — births, deaths, members moving in or out
Changes in other health insurance coverage

12-month continuous eligibility for children

Children enrolled in Health First Colorado and CHP+ receive 12-month continuous eligibility — once enrolled, their coverage runs for a full 12 months regardless of changes in household income during that period. Continuous eligibility reduces the risk of coverage gaps for children and aligns with the federal policy expanded under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. At the end of the 12-month period, redetermination occurs and the child's current circumstances determine continued eligibility.

If your coverage is terminated

If your Health First Colorado coverage is terminated, you have the right to request a fair hearing within 120 days of the termination notice. If you request a hearing within 10 days of the notice, your coverage may continue during the appeal process. Contact your local county human services office or Colorado Legal Services (coloradolegalservices.org) for help with an appeal.

Colorado residents who lose Medicaid eligibility due to income changes should visit connect.colorado.gov to explore marketplace plan options — income between 138% and 400% FPL qualifies for premium tax credits on ACA marketplace plans.

Post-pandemic coverage losses: the 2023–2024 unwinding

During the COVID-19 public health emergency (March 2020 through March 2023), federal law prohibited states from removing people from Medicaid. When that protection ended, states conducted a mass redetermination of all enrolled members — known as the "unwinding." Millions of people lost coverage nationally between April 2023 and late 2024, many due to administrative reasons like outdated addresses rather than actual ineligibility. If you lost Colorado Medicaid during that period without receiving a renewal notice, you may still be eligible. Contact Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) to reapply.

How to complete your renewal

When Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) sends a renewal notice, here's what to do:

1

Read the notice carefully

Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
2

Update your information

If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
3

Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail

Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid)'s online portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
4

Confirm your coverage continued

After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) to verify your status.

If your renewal is denied

A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.

Common renewal denials include: income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions. Some of these can be addressed by reapplying with updated information rather than appealing.

Contact Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.

Keeping your account information up to date

The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.

Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) or update your information through the online portal at https://hcpf.colorado.gov.