Colorado CHIP: Children's Health Insurance Program
Updated August 2026
Colorado operates a separately branded CHIP program called CHP+ (Children's Health Plan Plus). CHP+ covers uninsured children and pregnant women in families with income between 138% and 260% of the Federal Poverty Level. Children in families below 138% FPL are covered through Health First Colorado (Medicaid).
138%–260% FPL
CHP+ income range for children
CHP+
Colorado's CHIP program name
1-800-221-3943
CHP+ enrollment phone
Losing other coverage? You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period
Children losing employer-sponsored insurance qualify for a Special Enrollment Period for CHP+ — apply within 60 days of losing other coverage. Newborns born to CHP+-enrolled mothers are automatically enrolled.
CHP+: Colorado's Children's Health Plan Plus
CHP+ is administered by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) alongside Health First Colorado. Both programs use a similar benefit structure and provider network, but CHP+ has distinct cost-sharing rules and its own operational details that differ from the Medicaid program.
As of April 2026, Colorado had approximately 70,731 children enrolled in CHP+ — down from higher levels during the pandemic continuous enrollment period.
CHP+ income eligibility
CHP+ and Health First Colorado (Medicaid) income limits vary by population, per HCPF's income chart effective April 1, 2026.
| Population | Income Limit | Monthly income (family of 4, effective 4/1/2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Children (CHP+) | up to 260% FPL | up to $7,150/month |
| Pregnant women (CHP+) | 195%–260% FPL | ~$5,960–$7,150/month (family of 4) |
| Children (Health First Colorado / Medicaid) | below CHP+ range | Below the CHP+ threshold; see hcpf.colorado.gov for the current Health First Colorado limit |
Children (CHP+)
- Income Limit
- up to 260% FPL
- Monthly income (family of 4, effective 4/1/2026)
- up to $7,150/month
Pregnant women (CHP+)
- Income Limit
- 195%–260% FPL
- Monthly income (family of 4, effective 4/1/2026)
- ~$5,960–$7,150/month (family of 4)
Children (Health First Colorado / Medicaid)
- Income Limit
- below CHP+ range
- Monthly income (family of 4, effective 4/1/2026)
- Below the CHP+ threshold; see hcpf.colorado.gov for the current Health First Colorado limit
What CHP+ covers
CHP+ provides comprehensive benefits for children, including a 5% of annual household income cap on total out-of-pocket costs — the federal maximum for CHIP programs. Once your family reaches the cap in a calendar year, no additional cost sharing applies for the rest of that year.
- Well-child visits, preventive care, and immunizations
- Sick visits and specialist care
- Dental — through DentaQuest (call 1-888-307-6561 for CHP+ dental)
- Vision — eye exams and glasses
- Mental health and behavioral health services
- Prescription drugs
- Hospital care — inpatient and outpatient
- Emergency services
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
CHP+ premiums and cost sharing
Per HCPF's official CHP+ page, it is free to enroll in CHP+ — there is no monthly premium to join. Families may still owe small co-pays for some services based on income, but there are no co-pays for preventive care such as well-child checkups and prenatal care, and Native American and Alaska Native members do not pay co-pays at all.
Contact HCPF at 1-800-221-3943 or visit hcpf.colorado.gov/chp for current CHP+ cost-sharing details. 12-month continuous enrollment applies to children enrolled in CHP+ — once enrolled, children maintain coverage for a full year regardless of income changes during that period.
How to enroll a child in CHP+
Apply for CHP+ at peak.colorado.gov — the same portal used for Health First Colorado. HCPF determines whether the child qualifies for Medicaid (Health First Colorado) or CHIP (CHP+) based on income. Parents do not need to apply separately for each program.
What CHIP is
CHIP — the Children's Health Insurance Program — is a federal-state partnership that covers children in families whose income is too high for Medicaid but too low to afford private insurance. Congress created CHIP in 1997 under Title XXI of the Social Security Act. Like Medicaid, CHIP is jointly funded by the federal government and each state, and each state administers its own program.
CHIP serves children up to age 19 (some states cover to 21 for children in foster care). It is not available to adults — CHIP is specifically designed to address the coverage gap for children in working families.
Nationally, CHIP covers approximately 7 million children, according to CMS data. In most states, it is a seamless part of the broader children's health coverage system alongside Medicaid.
Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid)
- CHP+ / Health First Colorado enrollment phone: 1-800-221-3943
- Apply for CHP+: peak.colorado.gov
- Colorado HCPF (CHP+ info): hcpf.colorado.gov
Related guides
For Pregnant Women
Coverage, income rules, and postpartum benefits during pregnancy.
Read more →Eligibility Requirements
The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.
Read more →What Medicaid Covers
The services every state must cover, plus benefits that vary by state.
Read more →