How to get Colorado Medicaid or low-cost care

Colorado's version of Medicaid

Health First Colorado is the name of Medicaid in Colorado, and the state has used that name since 2016. A state agency called the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, or HCPF, runs it.

Colorado expanded Medicaid on January 1, 2014, according to KFF, a health policy research group. Colorado adults under 65 can qualify with an income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. That level is a dollar amount set each year to measure poverty. The state counts the limit as 133 percent plus a standard 5 percent allowance.

Children and pregnant people can qualify at higher incomes. A related program called CHP+ covers some of them when their income is above the Medicaid limit. Our Medicaid eligibility guide explains who qualifies in each group.

Apply through PEAK or by phone

The state calls Colorado PEAK the fastest way to apply, and most people learn right away whether they qualify. You can apply at any time of year, and there are four routes.

• Apply online at Colorado PEAK, the state's benefits website.
• Apply by phone at 1-800-221-3943, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dial 711 for the state relay.
• Apply in person at your county office or a local application assistance site.
• Apply by mail with a paper form that you print and fill out.

Our guide to how to apply for Medicaid shows which papers to collect. After you apply, answer any letter from the state quickly.

What is the Colorado Indigent Care Program?

The Colorado Indigent Care Program, called CICP, is a way to get discounted care at certain hospitals and clinics. HCPF explains that it is not health insurance. Its coverage for doctor visits, specialists and prescriptions is limited, and it has no dental or behavioral health benefit.

If you meet the basic rules for Health First Colorado, you must apply there first. If you are denied, you may still qualify for CICP. You make an appointment with a CICP provider, fill out the application there, and bring your denial letter. Each provider chooses which services beyond emergency care it discounts, so ask before your visit. You can call 1-800-221-3943 to find a provider near you.

Letters about the 2027 work rule are already going out

Colorado says its work rule begins January 1, 2027. It applies to new applicants on or after that date and to current members whose renewal is due in January 2027 or later. The state began mailing letters to members who must comply in August 2026, so watch your mail.

The rule covers adults ages 19 to 64 in the expansion group. You can meet it in either of two ways. One way is to do 80 hours a month of work, a work program, volunteering or school. The other is to earn at least $580 a month, which is 80 hours at the federal minimum wage. Gig and seasonal workers can average their pay over six months.

Several groups do not have to meet the rule. They include people who are pregnant or were pregnant in the past 12 months, and caregivers of a child 13 or younger. They also include people with disabling health conditions and people already on SSI or SSDI.

HCPF checks the records it already has first. If that is not enough, it sends a letter or a work requirements form, and you must answer it. In 2027 you can use a signed statement for earnings and hours. You can send your information through PEAK, the Health First Colorado app, by mail or by drop-off. If the state ends your coverage, the notice explains how to appeal. Our Medicaid work requirement guide has more details.

If your income is above the limit

Colorado runs its own marketplace, called Connect for Health Colorado, which describes itself as the state's official marketplace. Open enrollment starts November 1, 2026, and the help line is 855-752-6749. A tax credit is government money that lowers what you pay each month for a plan. The extra federal tax credits from a pandemic-era law ended after 2025, and the 400 percent of poverty cap is back for 2026.

After a job loss you get a 60-day window to join a plan. Our guide on losing your health insurance explains how that window works.

Community health centers and license checks

The Colorado Community Health Network represents the state's community health centers. What you pay at these centers depends on your income and family size. To find one, open the free Find a Health Center tool. It comes from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, called HRSA, and it asks for your zip code. Before you call, our community health center guide can help you plan your questions.

The state's Division of Professions and Occupations runs a tool labeled Lookup a License.

Direct primary care and emergencies

Some Colorado doctors charge a flat monthly fee for primary care, which is called direct primary care. A monthly fee for visits is not insurance. If you want to see who offers this near you, our directory lists cash-pay doctors by location. Ask the doctor's office for a written list of what the fee covers.

If you have chest pain, trouble breathing or another emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Under federal law the hospital must examine and stabilize you, even if you cannot pay.