What Is the Income Limit for Medicaid in Colorado?

The income limit for Medicaid in Colorado depends on who in your household needs coverage. For most adults aged 19 to 64, Health First Colorado (the state’s Medicaid program) covers household income up to 133% of the federal poverty level, which works out to roughly $1,769 per month for a single person as of April 2026.¹ Children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities all qualify under different, generally higher, thresholds.

Income Limits for Adults Aged 19 to 64

Adults in this age range who are not pregnant and not receiving disability benefits qualify if household income stays at or below 133% of the federal poverty level.² Federal rules add a 5% income disregard during the eligibility determination, which effectively lifts the cutoff to 138% for most applicants, though the published charts use the 133% figure.³

The monthly limits that took effect April 1, 2026:¹

Household of 1: up to $1,769 per month ($21,228 per year)
Household of 2: up to $2,399 per month
Household of 3: up to $3,028 per month
Household of 4: up to $3,658 per month

A separate category covers parents and caretaker relatives of dependent children at 68% of the federal poverty level, about $905 per month for one person. Because the 133% threshold is higher and applies to all adults in this age bracket, most parents simply qualify under the broader rule.¹

Income Limits for Children Under 19

Children qualify at household income up to 142% of the federal poverty level. In 2026, that works out to $3,233 per month for a family of three and $3,905 per month for a family of four.¹

If your family earns too much for Medicaid, your children may still qualify for the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program, which covers households with income up to 260% of the federal poverty level, or roughly $6,966 per month for a family of four based on the most recent published limits.⁴ CHP+ premiums are low and vary by income bracket.⁵

Once a child is enrolled in Medicaid or CHP+, Colorado keeps the coverage in place for 12 months regardless of changes in family income or household size during that period.⁶ A temporary raise at work or a new household member will not disrupt a child’s coverage mid-year.

Income Limits for Pregnant Women

Pregnant women qualify at a much higher threshold: up to 195% of the federal poverty level.⁷ The 2026 monthly limits:¹

Household of 1: up to $2,594 per month
Household of 2: up to $3,517 per month
Household of 3: up to $4,440 per month
Household of 4: up to $5,363 per month

Coverage runs through pregnancy and the postpartum period, so prenatal care, delivery, and follow-up visits are covered without a gap.

Income Limits for Seniors and People with Disabilities

Coloradans aged 65 and older and people with qualifying disabilities fall under the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (ABD) category.⁸ Income limits for ABD applicants are not calculated from the federal poverty level. They are tied instead to the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) federal benefit rate, which in 2026 is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple.⁹

Long-Term Services and Supports

People who need nursing home care or home-based long-term services qualify under a higher ceiling: up to 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate, or $2,982 per month for an individual in 2026.⁹ Applicants whose income exceeds this amount but is less than the actual cost of nursing home care may still become eligible by setting up a qualified income trust (sometimes called a Miller Trust) to hold the excess income.

Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities

Working adults with disabilities can keep Medicaid coverage at much higher income levels through the Health First Colorado Buy-In program, which allows income up to 450% of the federal poverty level.¹⁰ Based on the 2025 chart, the maximum qualifying income for an individual is $5,869 per month after applicable disregards. Participants pay a sliding-scale monthly premium of $0 to $200 depending on income.¹¹

How Colorado Counts Your Income

For adults, children, and pregnant women, Colorado uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), the same figure from your federal tax return with a few additions such as tax-exempt interest and non-taxable Social Security benefits. Supplemental Security Income payments are not counted.¹² To verify income, gather recent pay stubs, W-2 forms, and your most recent federal tax return.

Self-Employment Income

Self-employed applicants follow a slightly different process. If your current monthly self-employment income puts you over the limit, Colorado can annualize your earnings (averaging them over the year) and subtract your monthly business expenses from that average. Acceptable documentation includes a profit-and-loss statement, a business ledger, a prior year’s Schedule C, or 1099 forms showing non-employee compensation.¹³ If you recently started a business and cannot reasonably predict annual earnings, you only need to report your current monthly income.

Do Assets or Savings Count?

For most people who qualify under an income-based (MAGI) category, no. Colorado looks only at income for adults, children, and pregnant women. Asset limits apply to seniors and people with disabilities in the ABD category: countable resources cannot exceed $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple for programs such as the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled Waiver.²

Not everything counts. Your primary home is generally excluded, as are personal belongings and typically one vehicle. Additional real estate, rental property, and financial accounts are countable.¹⁴

One thing to know if you are applying for long-term care: the state reviews any asset transfers you made during the 60 months before your application. Giving away assets or selling them below market value during that window can trigger a penalty period of ineligibility for long-term care benefits.¹⁵

Where to Apply

The fastest way to apply is through the Colorado PEAK online portal, which can return an eligibility decision immediately. You can also download and mail a paper application or apply in person at your local county office.¹⁶ Mail and in-person applications can take up to 45 days for a decision, or up to 90 days if a disability determination is needed.¹⁷ If you are close to the limit, apply anyway: the 5% disregard, household size, and self-employment deductions can push a borderline case under the line.

1
Colorado.gov. Medicaid Income Chart
2
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Programs for Adults
3
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). MA Coverage Fact Sheet March 2025
4
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
5
Colorado.gov. CHP+ Income Chart
6
HCPF. Continuous Eligibility Updates for Children Under 19
7
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Programs for Pregnant People
8
Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. 10 CCR 2505-10-8.100 – Medical Assistance Eligibility
9
Social Security Administration. SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2026
10
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Health First Colorado Buy-In Program For Working Adults With Disabilities
11
Health First Colorado (HCPF). Health First Colorado Buy-In for Working Adults with Disabilities 2025 Income Chart and Premium Guide
12
HealthCare.gov. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) – Glossary
13
HCPF (Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing). Annualized Income Frequently Asked Questions
14
Colorado Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). Medical Assistance Additional Information Form
15
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF). Long-Term Care Medical Assistance Eligibility (Rule 8.100.7)
16
Health First Colorado. Apply Now
17
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Cover All Coloradans Frequently Asked Questions