Colorado Medicaid Income Limits – 2021

The Medicaid Income Limit is the most important criteria for deciding whether you qualify for Medicaid in your state. In this post, we are going to explain in detail the Colorado Medicaid Income Limits for 2021. Medicaid in Colorado is also known as Health First Colorado.

Based on this information, you will be able to determine whether your income qualifies you for Colorado Medicaid or not.

However, before we get into details about the income limit, we will first explain the Medicaid program in Colorado and how it works.

Next, we will discuss who is eligible for Medicaid, including how eligibility works for various categories, including Children, Pregnant Women, and Adults.

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a federal and state health insurance program for people with a low income.

It provides free or low-cost health coverage to millions of Americans, including families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offers health coverage to children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.

How Many People are on Medicaid?

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as of November 2020, here are the number of people enrolled in Medicaid and Chip in the entire United States:

• 78,521,263 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP
• 72,204,587 individuals were enrolled in Medicaid
• 6,695,834 individuals were enrolled in CHIP

Colorado Medicaid

The Colorado Medicaid program provides medical coverage to low-income individuals and families.

As of 2020, the program, along with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) covered about 1.45 million people as shown by the image below.

In Colorado, Medicaid is managed by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).

Who Can Get Medicaid in Colorado?

You should apply for Medicaid if your income is low and you match one of the descriptions below:

• You think you are pregnant
• The parent or caretaker of a child and/or teenager under the age of 19.
• You are a child or teenager age 18 or under.
• An adult age 65 or older.
• You are legally blind.
• Living with a disability or disabled.
• You are in need of nursing home care.

Colorado Medicaid Income Limit

The Colorado Medicaid Income Limit is calculated as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Line.

To qualify, you must meet the Colorado Medicaid Income limits listed below.

Here is the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for 2021.

Additionally, to be eligible for Medicaid, you cannot make more than the income guidelines outlined below:

• Children up to age 1 with family income up to 142 percent of FPL
• Any child age 1-5 with a family income up to 142 percent of FPL
• Children ages 6- 18 with family income up to 142 percent of FPL
• CHIP for children with family income up to 260 percent of FPL
• Pregnant women with family income up to 195 percent of FPL
• Parents of minor children with family income up to 68 percent of FPL
• Individuals who are elderly, blind, and disabled with family income up to 74% of the FPL
• Adults without dependents under Medicaid expansion with income up to 133% of the FPL

Colorado Medicaid Income Limit Charts

The Colorado Medicaid eligibility income limit charts are divided by groups.

For example, the first chart is focused on income limits for children who qualify for Medicaid.

Similarly, the second chart below focuses on the Medicaid income limits for adults in Colorado who qualify for Medicaid.

Colorado Medicaid Income Limit for Children 

Below is the income limit for children by age category. Find the age category your child falls into and you will see the income limit by household size.

Next is the income limit for adults by category. Find the category you fall into and you will see the income limit by household size.

Colorado has expanded Medicaid to include adults without dependents.

Therefore, adults without dependents can apply for Medicaid in Colorado.

For an update on the Medicaid expansion debate and timeline in Colorado, see our Colorado Expansion update below.

Colorado Medicaid Income Limit for Adults

How to Read the Colorado Medicaid Income Limits Charts Above

You cannot have an income higher than the Federal Poverty Level percentage described for your group to be eligible for Medicaid.

Similarly, when you identify the income group that applies to you, the income limit you see refers to the maximum level of income you can earn to qualify for benefits.

For example, if you are pregnant, to qualify for Medicaid, you cannot have an income higher than 195% of the Federal Poverty Level – which for a family of two is  $33,969 as shown in the chart above.

How to Apply for Colorado Medicaid

There are 3 ways you can apply for Medicaid in Colorado.

Option 1 – Apply online

You can apply online through the Colorado PEAK account (as shown in the image below). If you have an account, you can log in or create your PEAK Account. Click here to be taken to the website.

For questions on how to apply, see the FAQs page here.

Option 2 – Apply at CDHS Office Near You

You can apply in person at the Colorado Department of Human Resources (CDHS) office near you. Click here to locate a CDHS office.

Option 3 – Download Application

You can download an application, complete it, and mail it to your county CDHS office or submit it in person.

Colorado Medicaid Phone Number

Here’s how to contact the Colorado Medicaid Agency:

Medicaid Customer Contact Center
1-800-221-3943
TDD 1-800-659-2656

HealthColorado
303-839-2120 (Denver Metro Area)
1-888-367-6557 (all other areas)

For all other phone numbers for the Colorado Medicaid Agency, click here.

Colorado Medicaid Expansion Update

Colorado opted to expand Medicaid and Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the legislation authorizing Medicaid expansion in May 2013.

Medicaid enrollment in Colorado grew by 73 percent between late 2013 and late 2017, driven mostly by the expanded eligibility rules.

As of June 2019, Medicaid expansion enrollment in Colorado was 380,400.

Colorado Medicaid Income Limits Summary

We hope this post on Colorado Medicaid Income Limits was helpful to you.

If you have any questions about Medicaid in the state of Colorado, you can ask us in the comments section below.

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Be sure to check out our other articles about Medicaid.
Income limits for Florida Medicaid
Alabama Medicaid Income Limits and How to Apply
Alaska Medicaid Income Limits and Chart
Connecticut Husky Health Income Limits