To qualify for Medicaid in Colorado, known as Health First Colorado, you need to fit into one of the categories the state covers, meet the income limit for that category, be a Colorado resident, and meet federal citizenship or immigration rules. For most adults ages 19 through 64, the income ceiling is 133% of the federal poverty level, roughly $21,227 a year for a single person in 2026. There is no asset test for most applicants. The $2,000 resource limit people often hear about applies only to nursing home and long-term care applications.
Who the Program Covers
Colorado Medicaid is not open to everyone below a certain income. You have to fall into one of the categories the state recognizes, and each category has its own income rule.
- Children under 19. Covered at varying income levels by age: up to 142% of the federal poverty level for ages 0 through 5, and up to 108% of FPL for ages 6 through 18 on the mandatory Medicaid track.
- Pregnant women. Covered up to 195% of FPL, which works out to about $42,198 a year for a household of two in 2026. Coverage includes prenatal care, delivery, and 60 days of postpartum care.
- Parents and caretaker relatives. Adults living with and caring for a dependent child under 18. The traditional mandatory threshold is 68% of FPL, but Colorado’s expansion covers parents and caretakers up to 133% of FPL, so in practice the ceiling matches that of childless adults.
- Adults ages 19 through 64 without dependent children. Covered under the Affordable Care Act expansion up to 133% of FPL, with a built-in 5% income disregard that functionally raises the cutoff to 138%.
- Adults 65 and older. Eligible through age-based programs, including the Old Age Pension medical program and home and community-based services waivers.
- People with disabilities. Adults ages 18 through 64 who are blind or have a physical disability, including those with HIV/AIDS, qualify through the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled waiver and related programs.
If you do not fit into one of these groups, you do not qualify for Health First Colorado, no matter how low your income is.1Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Medical Assistance Coverage Fact Sheet
How Colorado Counts Your Income
For children, pregnant women, parents, and non-disabled adults under 65, Colorado uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. That is essentially the income figure from your federal tax return with a few adjustments. Under MAGI, there is no asset or resource test. Your bank balance, your car, and your home equity do not matter. Only household income counts.2Medicaid.gov. Eligibility Policy
Income limits are expressed as percentages of the federal poverty level, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updates every year. For 2026, the annual FPL for a single person in the 48 contiguous states is $15,960. For a household of two it is $21,640, for three it is $27,320, and for four it is $33,000.3ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States HCPF updates its income charts each April when the new FPL figures take effect.
For adults 65 and older and for people who are blind or have a disability, income is not counted using MAGI. Instead, Colorado uses rules based on the Supplemental Security Income program, which allow certain income deductions MAGI does not. The 2026 federal SSI payment rate is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple.4Social Security Administration. SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2026 For home and community-based services waivers covering elderly and disabled Coloradans, the income limit rises to 300% of the SSI federal benefit rate.1Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Medical Assistance Coverage Fact Sheet
If Your Child Earns Just Over the Limit
Families whose children earn too much for Medicaid but still cannot afford private insurance may qualify for Child Health Plan Plus, Colorado’s version of the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program. CHP+ covers uninsured children under 19 and pregnant women whose household income falls between the Medicaid ceiling and 260% of FPL. For a family of three in 2026, that upper limit is roughly $71,032 a year. CHP+ is a separate program with its own cost-sharing structure, but the application is the same.1Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Medical Assistance Coverage Fact Sheet
Residency and Citizenship
You must be a current Colorado resident with the intent to stay. There is no minimum duration. You qualify the day you move in, as long as you are not maintaining a primary home in another state. Proof can be a signed lease, a mortgage statement, or a utility bill showing a Colorado address.
Federal law requires Medicaid applicants to be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or qualified non-citizens. Lawful permanent residents generally must have held that status for at least five years before they can receive full Medicaid benefits, with some exceptions for children, pregnant women, and refugees.2Medicaid.gov. Eligibility Policy Every applicant must provide a Social Security Number or show proof of having applied for one.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 US Code 1396a – State Plans for Medical Assistance
People who do not meet the citizenship or immigration requirements can still receive federally funded coverage for emergency medical conditions, including emergency labor and delivery, if they otherwise meet Colorado’s income and categorical rules. This coverage does not extend to organ transplants or non-emergency follow-up care.6Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicaid Managed Care Payments and Emergency Medical Condition Coverage for Aliens Ineligible for Full Medicaid Benefits
When Asset Limits Apply
Most Medicaid applicants in Colorado face no asset test. If you are applying for regular health coverage under MAGI rules, you can own a house, retirement accounts, and savings without any of it affecting your eligibility. Only your income counts.
The strict asset rules kick in when you apply for nursing home care, a home and community-based services waiver, or other long-term services and supports. Countable resources include bank accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, and similar liquid holdings. A single applicant is generally limited to $2,000 in countable resources.
Several items are exempt from the count:
- Your home, as long as your equity does not exceed $1,130,000. The exemption also applies regardless of equity if a spouse, a child under 21, or a disabled child lives in the home.
- One personal vehicle used for transportation.
- Personal belongings and household goods.
- A designated burial fund, typically up to $1,500, plus irrevocable burial trusts or prepaid funeral plans.
Applicants over the resource limit may need to spend down excess assets on allowable expenses before they qualify.
Spousal Protections
When one spouse needs long-term care and the other remains in the community, federal rules prevent the healthy spouse from being left destitute. The community spouse can keep a protected share of the couple’s combined assets, called the Community Spouse Resource Allowance. For 2026, that allowance ranges from $32,532 to $162,660, depending on how assets are divided.7Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards The community spouse is also entitled to a minimum monthly income allowance drawn from the institutionalized spouse’s income to cover basic living expenses.
The Five-Year Look-Back
When you apply for long-term care Medicaid, the state reviews financial transactions from the previous 60 months. Any assets you gave away or sold below fair market value during that window can trigger a penalty period during which Medicaid will not pay for nursing home care. The penalty length is calculated by dividing the value of transferred assets by the average monthly cost of nursing home care in the state. Legitimate purchases at fair value and payments for care services are not penalized.
What You Need to Apply
Having your paperwork ready before you start avoids the most common delays:
- Income proof: pay stubs from the last 30 days, your most recent federal tax return, Social Security award letters, pension statements, or self-employment records.
- Residency proof: a signed lease, mortgage statement, or utility bill with a Colorado address.
- Identity: a state-issued driver’s license or ID, U.S. passport, or birth certificate for each household member on the application.
- Citizenship or immigration status: a U.S. birth certificate, passport, certificate of naturalization, or immigration documents such as a permanent resident card.
- Social Security Numbers for every household member applying.
Long-term care applications also require bank statements, investment account records, property deeds, and documentation of any asset transfers over the previous five years.8Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Medical Assistance Additional Information Form – English
Colorado accepts applications four ways: online through the Colorado PEAK portal, by mail to a county human services office, in person at a county office or regional enrollment center, or by phone through the state’s enrollment line. Online applications can produce a decision immediately. Mail-in applications can take up to 45 days. Applications involving a disability determination can take up to 90 days.9Department of Health Care Policy and Financing. Member Frequently Asked Questions
Keeping Coverage Each Year
Qualifying is not a one-time event. Colorado redetermines your eligibility every 12 months. The state first tries to verify continued eligibility automatically using electronic data sources like tax records and wage databases. If the data confirms you still qualify, your coverage renews without any action beyond reviewing the notice the state sends.10Medicaid.gov. Overview – Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals
If the state cannot confirm automatically, you will receive a renewal form prepopulated with the information already on file. You need to correct anything that has changed, attach supporting documents, and return the form within at least 30 days. Ignoring that form is one of the most common reasons people lose Medicaid coverage despite still qualifying. Treat it like a deadline that will cost you your health insurance if you miss it.