How to Renew Colorado Medicaid
Updated August 2026
Colorado reviews Health First Colorado and CHP+ eligibility every 12 months through a redetermination. Colorado first attempts ex parte renewal — checking Colorado wage records, tax data, and federal data sources to verify continued eligibility without requiring action from the member.
12 months
Renewal frequency
PEAK portal
Online renewal option
60 days
Deadline to respond to renewal packet
Respond to your Health First Colorado renewal notice within 60 days
Colorado sends renewal (redetermination) notices before your annual review. Respond within the deadline shown on your notice — typically 60 days. Members who don't respond may lose coverage. Renew at peak.colorado.gov or call 1-800-221-3943.
How Colorado renews Health First Colorado coverage
If Colorado can confirm eligibility through ex parte data, the member receives an automatic renewal notice. No action is needed. If Colorado cannot complete ex parte renewal, a renewal packet is sent to the member's address on file. Members typically have 60 days to respond. Failure to respond results in coverage termination at the end of the renewal period.
Children enrolled in Health First Colorado and CHP+ receive 12-month continuous eligibility — once enrolled, their coverage runs for a full 12 months regardless of changes in household income during that period. At the end of the 12-month period, redetermination occurs and the child's current circumstances determine continued eligibility.
How to renew
Health First Colorado offers several ways to complete your renewal.
- Online (PEAK portal) — log in to your account at peak.colorado.gov, renew online, upload documents, and track the status of your renewal in real time
- PEAK mobile app — use the PEAK mobile app (iOS and Android) to renew from your phone; scan and upload documents using your phone's camera
- By phone — call HCPF at 1-800-221-3943 (TTY: 711) or your local county human services office
- In person — visit your county human services department; Colorado has 64 county offices, find yours at cdhs.colorado.gov
Documents you may need for renewal
Have these ready when you complete your renewal.
- Proof of income — recent pay stubs, employer letter, or self-employment records
- Proof of Colorado residency — utility bill, lease, or mail at current address
- Social Security numbers for household members
- Household composition changes — births, deaths, members moving in or out
- Changes in other health insurance coverage
If your coverage is terminated
If your Health First Colorado coverage is terminated, you have the right to request a fair hearing within 120 days of the termination notice. If you request a hearing within 10 days of the notice, your coverage may continue during the appeal process. Contact your local county human services office or Colorado Legal Services (coloradolegalservices.org) for help with an appeal.
Colorado residents who lose Medicaid eligibility due to income changes should visit connect.colorado.gov to explore marketplace plan options — income between 138% and 400% FPL qualifies for premium tax credits on ACA marketplace plans.
How to complete your renewal
When Health First Colorado sends a renewal notice, here's what to do.
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1
Read the notice carefully
Identify exactly what the agency is asking for and the deadline to respond. Renewal packets may ask you to confirm your current income, household size, or address.
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2
Update your information
If anything has changed — income, address, phone number, household members — report it now. Outdated contact information is the leading cause of missed renewal notices.
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3
Submit the renewal online, by phone, or by mail
Health First Colorado's online PEAK portal is typically the fastest way to complete a renewal. You may also call the enrollment line or mail in your completed packet.
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4
Confirm your coverage continued
After submitting, confirm you receive a notice that coverage was renewed. If you don't hear back within a few weeks, call Health First Colorado to verify your status.
If your renewal is denied
A denial must state the reason in writing and explain your right to appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the notice to request a fair hearing. File the appeal quickly — if you appeal before your coverage ends, you may be able to continue coverage during the appeal period, though this depends on timing and the reason for denial.
Common renewal denials include income that increased above the threshold, failure to respond to the renewal packet, a change in household size that affects eligibility, or immigration status questions.
Contact Health First Colorado within the 90-day window. A reconsideration or new application filed promptly can often restore coverage retroactively to the date it was lost.
Keeping your account information up to date
The most effective way to avoid renewal problems is to report changes promptly. Federal rules require Medicaid enrollees to report changes that may affect eligibility within a specified period — typically 10 to 30 days depending on the state.
Changes to report: new job or income change, move to a new address, change in household size (new baby, someone moves in or out), gaining or losing other health coverage. Contact Health First Colorado or update your information through the online portal at hcpf.colorado.gov.
Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid)
- HCPF renewal phone line: 1-800-221-3943 (TTY: 711)
- PEAK online portal: peak.colorado.gov
- Colorado Legal Services: coloradolegalservices.org