Renewals: What you need to know

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) renewals happen every year. This means we will review your information to make sure you still qualify for health coverage.

Some members will be automatically renewed based on information we have. Other members will need to go through the renewal process.

If you are auto-renewed

You will get a letter several weeks before your renewal deadline saying your health coverage has been renewed.

You may also receive a letter after you are renewed asking if your income information is correct. You must respond to this letter to keep your benefits.

If you are not auto-renewed

You need to go through the renewal process to see if you still qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+.

You will get a renewal packet in the mail and online at CO.gov/PEAK about 60 to 70 days before your renewal deadline.

Look out for official mail, email, push notifications or texts that explain what you need to do to renew your health coverage.

You may lose your health coverage if you do not complete your renewal on time. Respond right away to avoid losing your benefits, like doctors visits and prescriptions.

You must complete, sign, and mail or bring your renewal packet 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.

How will I know when my renewal is due?

Health First Colorado will send a renewal packet either in the mail or to your email telling you to check your PEAK mailbox several weeks before your renewal due date.

If you use the Health First Colorado app, and have opted in to push notifications, you will get a notification letting you know when it’s time to take action.

How to find your renewal date

What are the different ways to fill in and return the renewal packet?

Online at CO.gov/PEAK. Learn how to upload your documents in PEAK. Or download and use the Health First Colorado app.
In person at your local county human services office.
Mail or fax the signed renewal packet to your county human services department.

Important!

You must sign your renewal and submit it online or mail it back in by the deadline specified in the packet, even if there are no changes.

Learn more on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about renewals.

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Frequently asked questions about renewals

How do I find my renewal due date?
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.
How do I update my contact information and communication preferences?
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:

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How will Health First Colorado reach me when it’s time to renew?
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.
If I’m pregnant, does that change my renewal month?
Yes. The renewal month will be 12 months after the pregnancy ends. For example, if you complete your renewal in July 2024 while pregnant and your pregnancy ends in September, your new renewal date will be September 2025, not July 2025.

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.
What can I do to prepare for my renewal?
Make sure Health First Colorado has your latest information.
- Tell us about changes to your address, phone number, or email so we can reach you with important information.
- Report life changes like getting married or having a child.
- 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.
What is a renewal due date?
Health First Colorado and CHP+ renewals happen every year. Each member’s renewal month is usually based on the date they enrolled. For example, if your coverage started in September 2024, you would be up for renewal in September 2025. You would not have to take action until July 2025.

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 60 to 70 days before their renewal month.
What is the renewal process and why is it needed?
When you are approved for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), you only have health coverage for a certain period of time. At the end of your health coverage period, we will review your information to see if you and your household members still qualify for health coverage. An eligibility renewal is sometimes called a redetermination.

Some members will be automatically renewed based on the most recent information already on file with the state. If we need more information to see if you qualify, you will get a renewal packet in the mail and online at CO.gov/PEAK about 60 to 70 days before your renewal deadline.

To keep your health coverage, you must complete your renewal on time.
- Review the information we have about you and your household members.
- Report any changes or corrections to your information
- Sign and return the renewal by the due date
Watch a short video about how the renewal process works:

Completing your Renewal

I need help filling out my renewal packet, or I have questions about the renewal process.
- 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.
My renewal packet already has some of my information. Why are other areas blank?
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.
What happens if I miss my renewal deadline?
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+.
Why do I have to sign my renewal packet? How do I sign my renewal packet?
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.

Renewal Decision

I got a letter saying I don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, and I don’t agree. Can I appeal this decision?
Yes, you are always allowed to appeal a decision about whether you qualify for health coverage. See our Appeals page for details.
What happens if I no longer qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage?
If you no longer qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you have a limited amount of time to apply for other coverage. The time you have to apply for new coverage, known as a “special enrollment period,” changes depending on the coverage provider.

Other health coverage options include:
- Coverage through your employer. Check with your employer to learn about options, rules and deadlines.
- Coverage through a family member’s health insurance, such as a spouse, or parent if you are 25 or younger
- Coverage through Connect for Health Colorado (Colorado’s official health insurance marketplace). You might qualify for financial assistance to reduce the cost of your premium.
  - To get free help enrolling in Connect for Health Colorado coverage, reach out to a certified assister online or by calling 855-752-6749. TTY: 855-346-3432
- Coverage through Medicare for people age 65 or older or people under 65 with certain disabilities or end-stage renal disease. If you need help finding a plan, contact the Colorado State Health Insurance assistance Program (Colorado SHIP, a Medicare assistance program) at 888-696-7213.
- Coverage for active or former military, naval, or air service through Tricare (active) or VA (veterans).
If you no longer qualify because you missed the deadline to respond, you can reapply for Health First Colorado. To get free help filling out an application for Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage, or to learn about other coverage options, call and make an appointment at a certified application assistance site.

Renewals

FAQs