Health First Colorado Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, state employees are eligible for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) if they meet the income and eligibility rules.

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) does not have an enrollment fee, but in some circumstances co-pays may be required. Health First Colorado members who are pregnant, living in a nursing facility, or age 18 and younger do not have to pay co-pays. For more information on co-pays, visit the Benefits and Services Overview page.

• Contact the Colorado QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free coaching and support.
• Talk with your health care provider about the benefits and risks of taking smoking cessation medications while you are pregnant. Health Care Colorado covers two 90-day courses of smoking cessation medication with counseling to help you quit.

No, you must take action at the time your renewal is due. This will let eligibility workers process the renewals in a timely manner

However, you may update your contact information, communication preferences, and any other updates to your information anytime. Learn how to update your contact information and communication preferences.

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) covers smoking cessation products (e.g. Chantix, nicotine patches and nicotine gum) with a prior authorization.

Learn more about how to Quit Smoking.

The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) members age 20 and under along with administrative case management for pregnant adults. EPSDT is key to ensuring that children and youth receive appropriate preventive, dental, mental health, developmental and specialty services.

Early: Assessing and identifying problems early
Periodic: Checking children’s health at periodic, age-appropriate intervals
Screening: Providing physical, mental, developmental, dental, hearing, vision, and other screening tests to detect potential problems
Diagnostic: Performing diagnostic tests to follow up when a risk is identified, and
Treatment: Control, correct or ameliorate health problems found.

Learn more about EPSDT.

Translators are not a Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) benefit. Doctors and other medical providers must offer effective communication with their patients. Effective communication includes translators, American Sign Language interpreters, written material in another language, or other options to help people who speak a language other than English and for people with a disability. For more information, contact the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator.

If you applied for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), you can check your application status online through Colorado PEAK.

Even if you applied by mail, in-person, or over the phone, you can still create a Colorado PEAK account and find out the status of your application online. It may take up to 45 days — or up to 90 days if the application requires a disability determination — from the date your application was received for a case number to be assigned to you. Once you are assigned a case number, you can check your status and benefits online through Colorado PEAK. Get more information about your case number and where to find it.

You can submit a written request to receive copies of medical claims paid by Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) to our Privacy Officer using our Access to Protected Health Information form.

A Parent or Legal Guardian may sign on behalf of minor child. Legal Guardian, Power of Attorney, or equivalent may sign on behalf of adult. Documentation is required

Health First Colorado screens and processes the request to make sure it meets the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements. The Department will act on your request within 30 days (60 days if the information is off site), unless we provide you with notification in writing that a 30-day extension is needed.

Please send your written request with copies of your IDs to the following address:

Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
Privacy Officer
303 E. 17th Avenue
Denver, CO 80203

You may want us to speak with or share your health information with someone you choose to assist you with your Medical Assistance Program benefits.

• • If you want to authorize the Department to share with your family member or close friend, use our Personal Representative Form. This authorization does not expire unless you choose an expiration date.  You will need to sign the form, have your Personal Representative sign the form and return it together with copies of your identification.

• If you want to authorize the Department to share your health information with an attorney, insurance company, advocate or assistant for a specific purpose, please use our Third-Party Authorization Form. This authorization expires in 1 year, unless you choose an expiration date. You will need to sign the form and return it together with copies of your identification.

See the Apply Now page.

If your income has changed or you’ve moved out of Colorado since you applied for Health First Colorado it is important that you update the information we have on file for you. You can update your income, contact information, job information, and other information by logging on to your PEAK Account at Colorado.gov/PEAK to report a change. You can also report a change to your local County Human Services Office or a Medical Assistance Site in your community.

After you give us your updated information, we check to see if you still qualify for Health First Colorado.

• If you do still qualify for Health First Colorado then you do not have to do anything. Depending on your income, you can still qualify for Health First Colorado even if you have private health insurance through your employer. If you have both private health insurance and Health First Colorado, your private health plan will pay your medical costs first, and then what is left over may be covered by Health First Colorado. If you still qualify for Health First Colorado, but do not want Health First Colorado coverage, you can contact your local County Human Services Office and ask them to close your case.
• If you no longer qualify for Health First Colorado you will get a letter in the mail that states your Health First Colorado benefits are ending. The letter will tell you the date that your benefits will end as well as how you can appeal the decision if you do not agree.

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) has two managed care plans: Denver Health Medicaid Choice and Rocky Mountain Health Plans Prime. These plans are available to members in certain counties. Learn more about managed care plans (also available in Spanish). You may opt out of your Health First Colorado managed care plan for any reason during the first 90 days of your enrollment. You can also opt out each year during your open enrollment, which is the two months before your birth month. You can also opt out of your health plan at any time if you have good cause. Some examples of good cause might be:

• You move out of the health plan’s area
• The health plan does not cover the service you need
• You received poor quality care in the health plan you’re in now
• You can’t find a provider to treat your problem
• Health First Colorado Enrollment made a mistake and put you in the wrong health plan

If you leave your managed care plan, you will need to choose a primary care provider. You will still belong to a regional organization that can help you with physical and behavioral benefits.

To learn more about managed care plans, see your plan information (also in Spanish).

To opt out of your managed care plan and to choose a primary care provider, visit enroll.healthfirstcolorado.com or call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 303-839-2120 (in Denver), 1-888-367-6557 (outside of Denver), or State Relay: 711 for members with hearing or speech disabilities, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed state holidays).

The Health First Colorado Enrollment number is not for information on benefits or to find out if you qualify.

You can change your Primary Care Provider (PCP) at any time by visiting enroll.healthfirstcolorado.com or calling 303-839-2120 or 888-367-6557. For TDD/TTY, call 888-876-8864. Call Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The call is free.

If your physical health plan is Denver Health, tell your health plan you want to keep your provider. If your physical health plan is Rocky Prime, tell your provider you want to keep him or her.

If one of your providers is not a Health First Colorado participating provider, you can ask them to join the network.

App. You can find your renewal date in the Health First Colorado app. After you sign in, go to the “Quick Links” section to find your renewal date. If you need to take action on your renewal, you will see a notice.

You can be notified about your renewal through a notification from the Health First Colorado app if you’ve opted in.

Online. You can find your renewal due date on CO.gov/PEAK at any time.

• Sign in to PEAK.
• 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.”

Chatbot. You can use the chatbot on CO.gov/PEAK or Health First Colorado to find your renewal date. Start the chat and choose “Check my benefits.” After confirming your identity, you can access your renewal date.

If you need mental health and/or substance use disorder services, contact your Regional Organization.

If you need help with a technical issue on the Colorado.gov/PEAK website, such as password resets, error messages, or problems with navigation, call the PEAK Technical Support Call Center at 1-800-250-7741.

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Note: The PEAK Technical Support Call Center is closed on state holidays.

Not a Member Yet?

If you’re not currently a Health First Colorado member, see our Apply Now page.

For Current Members Who Need a Replacement Card

Option 1: Print a card from your home computer by logging in to your account at Colorado.gov/PEAK. For detailed help see: How can I print a Health First Colorado card through PEAK?

Option 2: View your Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) card from the Health First Colorado mobile app. The mobile app is for current Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members. You must have a Colorado.gov/PEAK account or create one to sign in. The Health First Colorado mobile app can be downloaded at the Apple iTunes Store or Android/Google Play App Store for free. The Health First Colorado mobile app is not for people who want to apply for benefits. With the mobile app and a PEAK Account you can:

• Update your income and upload your paystub
• Update your contact and household information
• Set up payments for Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) enrollment fees or the Health First Colorado Buy-in program premiums
• Find a Health First Colorado or CHP+ doctor
• View an electronic version of your Health First Colorado card
• View your Health First Colorado or CHP+ benefits

Option 3: You can also call or go in person to your local County Department of Human Services to request a card be mailed. The card will take up to two weeks to arrive.

Option 4: Finally, you can call the Member Contact Center to request a card be mailed. When calling, choose option 5 to speak to a representative about ordering a replacement Health First Colorado card. Once you’ve completed the process the card will be mailed to the address on file and should arrive within two weeks.

First, you should review the different Health First Colorado plans and decide which one is the best one for you. Visit enroll.healthfirstcolorado.com or call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 303-839-2120 (in Denver) or 1-888-367-6557 (outside of Denver). Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed state holidays). Note: The Health First Colorado Enrollment number is not for information on benefits or to find out if you qualify.

Tell Health First Colorado or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) you are pregnant in a way that’s easy for you:
Visit CO.gov/PEAK. If you don’t have a PEAK account, you can create one at CO.gov/PEAK.

Use the Health First Colorado app on your phone. This free app is for Health First Colorado and CHP+ members.

CHP+ members can call 800-359-1991 (State Relay: 711). Help is available in multiple languages.

Or, contact your county department of human services.

You can update your contact information and communication preferences 3 ways:

• Online at CO.gov/PEAK.
• In the Health First Colorado app.
• By calling your local county human services office.

Watch a short video on how to update your contact information:

Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) is public low-cost health insurance for certain children and pregnant women. It is for people who earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program), but not enough to pay for private health insurance. See the Child Health Plan Plus page for more information.

Medicare is a federal government-sponsored health care program primarily for seniors. Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) is health care for low-income families and is managed by both the state and federal governments. Medicare and Health First Colorado differ in terms of who they cover, how they are funded and governed. To find out more about Medicare visit Medicare.gov or call Medicare Customer Service at 1-800-633-4227.

If you apply online through PEAK you may find out if you qualify immediately. If you apply by mail, it may take up to 45 days to find out if you qualify.

Depending on your communication preferences, you can get notifications about your renewal through mail, email, text message or by notification if you have the Health First Colorado app. Learn how to update your contact information and communication preferences.

Yes. If you are a tax dependent of someone else, you need to include their income information on your application. If you do not know it, you will need to contact that person to get their income information.

If you are temporarily out of the state but still a resident of Colorado, you may receive some Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) benefits under certain conditions:

1. It is a medical emergency.
2. Your health would be endangered if you were required to return to Colorado for the medical care/treatment.
3. The health care provider that treats you must enroll in the Health First Colorado program. Health care providers can visit the For Our Providers page for more information.

If you have more questions about seeing a health care provider out of state, call the Member Contact Center.

If you are a woman enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) when your baby is born, you can add your newborn to your case online by reporting a change through your PEAK account at Colorado.gov/PEAK, or using the Health First Colorado mobile app. Your baby will then be automatically enrolled in health coverage until his or her first birthday.

You also have the option to report the birth of your baby to your county of residence human services office or a Medical Assistance (MA) site case worker near you. Once your baby is added to your case and you have their State ID, you are able to take your baby to the doctor.

Yes. Veterans who qualify can have both VA health care program coverage and Health First Colorado. To find out if you and your family qualify for Medicaid see How To Apply.

If you change your Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) health plan then your new health plan starts the 1st of the next month. For example, if you change your Health First Colorado health plan on February 6, then your new health plan will start March 1st.

Until your new plan is active you are still covered by Health First Colorado, but some health care providers may not be able to see you. Make sure you have your Health First Colorado card on hand when making your appointment and when you go to your health care provider’s office.

If you have questions about your Health First Colorado health plan, visit enroll.healthfirstcolorado.com or call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 303-839-2120 (in Denver) or 1-888-367-6557 (outside of Denver). Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed state holidays). Note: The Health First Colorado Enrollment number is not for information on benefits or to find out if you qualify.

Yes, you are always allowed to appeal a decision about whether you qualify for health coverage. See our Appeals page for details.

Yes, when it’s time to renew, as part of the renewal you must request the Family Planning Limited Benefit coverage on PEAK at CO.gov/PEAK or with your local county human services department to continue receiving these benefits.

If you are a current Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) member and you need to tell us about a change in your income, log on to your PEAK account at Colorado.gov/PEAK to report the change. This is the fastest and easiest way to tell us about the change in your income. You can get in-person help updating your income using your PEAK account from a Certified Application Assistance Sites in your community. If you do not have a PEAK account, you can create a PEAK Account at any time, even if you did not apply online.

You can also report income changes using the Health First Colorado mobile app or by contacting your local County Human Services Office or a Medical Assistance Site in your community.

After you tell us what your new income is, we will need to see if you and your family still qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+. If you do still qualify then you do not have to do anything. If you no longer qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+ we’ll check to see if you and your family still qualify for a tax credit to help purchase private health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado.

There are two ways to report that you have legally changed your name.

1. Contact your local county office or Medical Assistance site.
2. If you are enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and do not receive food assistance, cash assistance, or financial assistance to purchase private health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, you can also call the Member Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943 / State Relay: 711 to change your name.

• Contact your county eligibility worker. Find your local county human services department.
• Call and make an appointment at an application assistance site. Find a certified application assistance site near you.

If you suspect your doctor, medical equipment provider, or any other Medicaid provider of fraud, please report it to us.

If you suspect someone of Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) member fraud, please report it to us.

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) is the payer of last resort in most situations. This means Health First Colorado pays for services only after any other coverage you may have pays first. If you have health coverage other than Health First Colorado, you should report that information to us. You can report other health coverage at Colorado.gov/PEAK.

The following types of coverage may be required to pay for your services before Health First Colorado:

• Employer-sponsored insurance
• Workers’ compensation
• Medicare
• COBRA
• Veteran’s (VA) health care program
• Casualty insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Pharmacy insurance

The renewal process checks to see if you still qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+. Some members will be automatically renewed based on information we have. Other members will need to go through the renewal process.

You will get a packet in the mail or in your PEAK mailbox several weeks before your renewal date. If any information is incorrect or missing, you need to fix it. If the packet asks for proof of income and resources, you need to send copies or upload them.

After you finish filling out the packet, sign it and send it back to your local county human services department by your renewal deadline. You can also complete the renewal packet online at CO.gov/PEAK or on the Health First Colorado app.

Yes. The renewal month will be 12 months after the pregnancy ends. For example, if you complete your renewal in July 2023 while pregnant and your pregnancy ends in September, your new renewal date will be September 2024, not July 2024.

Members must report their pregnancy in their PEAK account, on the Health First Colorado app, or to their county to qualify for the extended 12 months of coverage. Learn more about the expanded maternity benefit.

Not all members will be renewed at the same time. Members will be renewed according to their renewal month. Each member’s renewal month is usually based on the date you enrolled with Health First Colorado. Members who live in the same household may share the same renewal date. Some members will be automatically renewed based on the most recent information already on file with the state. Other members will need to go through the renewal process and take action. Health First Colorado will send renewal packets to those members in advance of their renewal month with key information and their individual timelines to take action.

You can check if your Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) coverage is active by going to the Colorado PEAK website and clicking on the Check My Benefits button or you can view your card from the Health First Colorado mobile app.

You can also call your local County Department of Social/Human Services or the Member Contact Center for assistance.

You can apply for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) at any time. Health First Colorado and CHP+ do not have open enrollment periods. Get more information on the How To Apply page.

You will need to complete an application even if your children are currently enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) will. You can apply at any time. For more information visit How To Apply.

The renewal packet may include some of your information that we have on file. Your PEAK account may include more information than your renewal packet.

You need to review the current information we have in the renewal packet for all members of your household.

• If the information is blank but applies to you, add the information.
• If the information is not correct, add the correct information.
• If you need to add more information, there’s a blank page at the end of the packet for you to write it in.

After you make the updates to the packet, sign the Renewal Form Signature Page, and return the form to your local county human services department by your renewal deadline.

If you do not have changes to your information, sign and return the Renewal Form Signature page to your local county human services department by your renewal deadline.

Important: If you do not return the Renewal Form Signature Page by the deadline, you may lose your health care coverage.

See the Benefits & Services Overview.

You can take steps now to make sure you get the information you will need to continue your health coverage.

• Update your contact information on CO.gov/PEAK or the Health First Colorado app.
• Opt in to email, text, and push notifications on CO.gov/PEAK or the Health First Colorado app.

If you miss your renewal deadline, you will no longer have Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage at the end of your renewal period.

In the 90 days after you lose health coverage, your eligibility will be checked again if you give new information or if you turn in your paperwork late. This is called a reconsideration period.

During the reconsideration period, you can submit your renewal paperwork and any other needed documents to your county or through PEAK during the reconsideration period. This will show up as an item on the To-Do list in PEAK.

If you do not submit your renewal and other documents within 90 days of losing coverage, you will need to submit a new application to see if you qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+.

If you lose Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and then get it back within 60 days, Health First Colorado will keep you enrolled in the health plan you had before you lost it. If you lose coverage and it takes longer than 60 days to get it back, you may have to re-enroll in the health plan you had before you lost coverage.

To enroll in a Health First Colorado health plan, visit enroll.healthfirstcolorado.com or call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 303-839-2120 (in Denver) or 1-888-367-6557 (outside of Denver). Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed state holidays). Note: The Health First Colorado Enrollment number is not for information on benefits or to find out if you qualify.

Health plans are networks of physicians, hospitals, and other health care professionals who deliver medical services to health plan members. To enroll in a Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) health plan, visit enroll.healthfirstcolorado.com or call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 303-839-2120 (in Denver) or 1-888-367-6557 (outside of Denver). Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed state holidays). Note: The Health First Colorado Enrollment number is not for information on benefits or to find out if you qualify.

Some Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) services and benefits require a health care provider to complete a form or make a phone call that gives permission to get extra services and supplies if you have a special health care need. If you have questions about prior authorizations please contact your health care provider or the Member Contact Center.

Federal law requires states to operate an Estate Recovery Program to help pay for the costs of their Medicaid program. We recover medical assistance payments paid on behalf of former Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) members from their estates. We may only recover medical assistance costs from the estates of members who received services in an institutionalized setting or for the cost of services received by members who were age 55 and older. The law also provides exceptions to estate recovery and the ability to compromise claims.

Health First Colorado Enrollment is a state program that helps Health First Colorado members choose the health plan they want to get services from. Health First Colorado Enrollment sends letters to all newly enrolled Health First Colorado members letting them know about their health plan options.

To find out more about choosing your Health First Colorado health plan, visit enroll.healthfirstcolorado.com call Health First Colorado Enrollment at 303-839-2120 (in Denver) or 1-888-367-6557 (outside of Denver). Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed state holidays). The Health First Colorado Enrollment number is not for information on benefits or to find out if you qualify.

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) is free or low cost public health insurance for Coloradans who qualify. Health First Colorado can cover your doctor visits, emergency care, preventive care such as screenings and immunizations, and other procedures and treatments. See the Benefits & Services Overview to find out what Health First Colorado covers.

Managed care is a group of doctors, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and other providers who work together to take care of your health care needs. We refer to these groups as Managed Care Organizations or MCOs. For more information please see the Accountable Care Collaborative page.

Your Case Number is how we identify you and members of your household in our system. Your Case Number starts with “1B.” This number is used by programs such as Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program), Food Assistance, Cash Assistance and/or Colorado Works to identify you. It is shown on all letters we send you. You can view any letters sent from the State (also known as client correspondence) in the Mail Center of your PEAK account.

If you do not qualify for Health First Colorado, you have other coverage options. You will need your Case Number to find out if you qualify for financial assistance to help buy private health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado.

We give each person who qualifies for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) an ID Number. Your and your family or caretaker’s Health First Colorado ID Number is sometimes called your State ID Number. Your ID Number is on your Health First Colorado card. It is also on all letters we send you about your benefits. You can also get your Health First Colorado ID Number by calling or visiting your county of residence’s human services office, calling the Member Contact Center, or view it from the Health First Colorado mobile app.

Your renewal month matches the month your Health First Colorado or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) coverage started. For example, if your coverage started in June 2022, you would be up for renewal in June 2023. You would not have to take action until May 2023.

If you are not feeling well but are not sure if you need to go to the doctor, call the Nurse Advice Line at 1-800-283-3221. This free hotline is just for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) members and you can call it 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Help is available in both English and Spanish.

When you are approved for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), you are only approved to get health coverage for a certain period of time. When you get to the end of your health coverage period, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing may ask you to complete a renewal packet.

We ask you to do this because we need to know if you and your household members still qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+. You will get a letter from the Department and a letter in your PEAK Mailbox 60-70 days before your renewal is due.

As part of the renewal process, you will need to review the current information we have about you and your household members. Then, you must report any changes or corrections to your information by the renewal due date.

Watch a short video about how the renewal process works:

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) offers services including nursing facility care and Home and Community-Based Services where medical providers come into the home to render the necessary services to keep a disabled or aged individual from being placed in a nursing facility or hospital. See the Long-Term Services and Supports Programs and Benefits & Services pages for more information.

After finding out you qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) your benefits will start right away. Your benefits may also be backdated to the first day of the month you applied. If you applied for long-term care Health First Colorado or other special programs, your benefits start the day you meet all the requirements. See the Long-Term Services and Supports page for more information about those programs.

If you are not feeling well but are not sure if you need to go to the doctor, call the Nurse Advice Line at 800-283-3221. This hotline is just for Health First Colorado members and you can call it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Your Health First Colorado card should arrive in 7-10 days. Your card will be sent to the address on your application. You can also print your Health First Colorado card through PEAK. You should always bring your photo ID with you when you see your health care provider or go to the pharmacy. You do not need a copy of your Health First Colorado card to get medical services.

It is important to know that it may take a few extra days once you are enrolled for your health care provider to confirm in their system you are enrolled in Health First Colorado. If you have questions about your coverage or benefits, please call the Member Contact Center.

In an emergency, you should get care from the closest hospital that can help you. The law requires providers to examine you to determine if your medical condition is life threatening and provide you with medical care until your life is no longer in danger.

If you need to fill a prescription, check to see if your pharmacy accepts Health First Colorado. If they do, provide a photo ID and prescription (or refill) to the pharmacy. They will try to fill it using the information you gave them. If they do not have enough information, pharmacies can give you enough medicine for 3 days. If your pharmacy does not accept Health First Colorado, call the Member Contact Center for help finding another pharmacy.

• Find your local county office.
• Find an application assistance site near you.
• Call or email the Member Contact Center.

Many types of doctors take Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program). Health First Colorado can cover your doctor visits, emergency care, preventive care such as screenings and immunizations, and other procedures and treatments.

See the Benefits & Services page for benefit details and see the Find Doctors & Providers page to search for specific doctors or other medical providers in your area.

A federal rule requires you or an authorized representative to sign your renewal packet.

There are several ways to do this:

Paper: Mail, fax, or bring the completed signature page and updated renewal form pages to your local county human services department.

Online: Complete and sign the renewal through PEAK at CO.gov/PEAK. If you return your renewal to an eligibility site without the signature page, you can upload the signed signature form on PEAK at CO.gov/PEAK.

Telephone: Call your local county human services department and ask the eligibility work to record your signature.

A member is allowed to sign with the letter “X” if the signature is witnessed by someone and that witness prints their name after the phrase “witnessed by.”

Important:

• If you do not return the Renewal Form Signature Page by the deadline, you may lose your health care coverage.
• You must return the Renewal Form Signature Page, even if you don’t have any changes.

If you have received a medical bill from your doctor or a collection agency, and you have confirmed that you were active on Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) on the date of service, first check if the date of service is within 120 days. If it is, please contact your provider and ask them to bill the medical assistance program. If they are having trouble billing, ask them to contact Provider Services at 1-844-235-2387.

If the date of service on the bill is greater than 120 days, please get in touch with the Member Contact Center for further assistance.

Your immigration status will not be affected. When you apply, the information you share can’t be used against you in decisions about your immigration status.

No, the information you give on your application is private. We won’t share it with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or anyone else. Colorado law keeps your personal information safe when you apply for or use most public benefits.