Colorado Medicaid for Seniors & Long-Term Care
Updated August 2026
Health First Colorado covers a range of long-term services and supports (LTSS) for eligible seniors and adults with disabilities. Colorado has significantly expanded home and community-based services (HCBS) over the past decade, reflecting state policy preference for keeping individuals in the least-restrictive setting. The state administers LTSS through the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF), with coordination through Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs) and Case Management Agencies (CMAs).
$2,000
Single individual asset limit
EBD Waiver
Primary HCBS waiver for seniors and adults with disabilities
1-800-221-3943
HCPF member contact line
Seniors 65+ and LTSS recipients are exempt from new federal work requirements
Federal legislation (H.R. 1, signed July 4, 2025) added community engagement requirements for certain Medicaid adults. Individuals age 65 and older, and those receiving long-term services and supports, are exempt. Contact HCPF at 1-800-221-3943 with questions about your specific coverage.
Long-term services and supports through Health First Colorado
Colorado operates multiple Section 1915(c) HCBS waivers as well as Section 1115 demonstration programs for LTSS. Eligibility requires meeting nursing facility level of care criteria and the financial requirements for long-term care Medicaid, which differ from the MAGI-based rules used for most Health First Colorado applicants.
Key LTSS programs in Colorado
Colorado offers several distinct long-term care pathways depending on a senior's needs and where they want to receive care.
- HCBS Elderly, Blind and Disabled (EBD) Waiver — the primary HCBS waiver for seniors and adults with disabilities; covers personal care, homemaker services, adult day health, home modification, non-medical transportation, assistive technology, and nursing facility transition assistance; entry through the local Case Management Agency (CMA)
- Home Care Allowance (HCA) — a state-funded program (not a federal waiver) that provides cash allowances for personal care to eligible individuals; can complement Medicaid HCBS services for some enrollees
- PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) — available in Denver metro and Colorado Springs; serves adults 55+ who need nursing facility level of care but can safely live in the community; integrates all Medicare and Medicaid services through a single PACE organization
- Nursing facility coverage — for individuals who meet both clinical and financial eligibility; residents contribute most of their income toward care, retaining a Personal Needs Allowance
Asset limits for long-term care Medicaid in Colorado
Long-term care Medicaid asset limits differ from standard Medicaid and vary by household composition and category.
| Category | Asset limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single individual | $2,000 | Countable assets only |
| Married (both applying) | $3,000 | Combined countable assets |
| Income limit (nursing facility or HCBS waiver) | $2,982/month (2026) | 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate; applies per applicant |
| Community spouse CSRA | $32,532 to $162,660 (2026) | Federal spousal impoverishment protections; exact amount depends on couple's combined resources |
| Primary home | Exempt (equity limit $1,130,000) | Federal maximum equity limit applies while spouse or dependents reside there |
| Vehicle | One exempt | One vehicle regardless of value |
Single individual
- Asset limit
- $2,000
- Notes
- Countable assets only
Married (both applying)
- Asset limit
- $3,000
- Notes
- Combined countable assets
Income limit (nursing facility or HCBS waiver)
- Asset limit
- $2,982/month (2026)
- Notes
- 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate; applies per applicant
Community spouse CSRA
- Asset limit
- $32,532 to $162,660 (2026)
- Notes
- Federal spousal impoverishment protections; exact amount depends on couple's combined resources
Primary home
- Asset limit
- Exempt (equity limit $1,130,000)
- Notes
- Federal maximum equity limit applies while spouse or dependents reside there
Vehicle
- Asset limit
- One exempt
- Notes
- One vehicle regardless of value
Case Management Agencies: where to start
Colorado routes LTSS applications through Case Management Agencies (CMAs) — regional organizations that conduct needs assessments, determine HCBS waiver eligibility, and coordinate access to long-term care services. CMAs replaced the state's former Single Entry Point (SEP) agencies as part of HCPF's Case Management Redesign, which consolidated case management for all HCBS waivers under a single agency type effective July 1, 2024.
To apply for HCBS waiver services in Colorado, contact your local CMA directly rather than going through the standard PEAK portal process. HCPF maintains a CMA and Community Centered Board (CCB) directory at hcpf.colorado.gov. CMAs can also help identify non-Medicaid resources like the Home Care Allowance and Area Agency on Aging programs that may complement Medicaid coverage.
Spousal protections and estate recovery
When one spouse needs nursing home care, federal law protects the other spouse from complete impoverishment. The community spouse is entitled to keep a minimum amount of assets — the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) — and a minimum monthly income (the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance, or MMMNA). The community spouse's own income is not counted toward the institutionalized spouse's Medicaid eligibility.
Colorado operates a Medicaid estate recovery program (MERP). Colorado seeks recovery from the estates of individuals who were age 55 or older when they received long-term care Medicaid services. Recovery is limited to probate assets and is deferred while a surviving spouse, minor child, or blind/disabled child is alive. Colorado's estate recovery program has specific hardship waiver provisions — families facing financial hardship due to estate recovery should contact HCPF's estate recovery unit to explore options.
What long-term care Medicaid typically covers
HCBS waivers let states cover long-term care services outside nursing facilities — in a person's home, adult day program, or assisted living. Contact Health First Colorado to ask which HCBS waiver programs are currently open for enrollment and whether there is a waiting list.
- Skilled nursing facility care — room, board, nursing services, and most medical care in the facility
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy provided in a nursing home
- Personal care assistance with daily activities (bathing, dressing, eating) through HCBS waivers
- Home health aide visits for those receiving care at home
- Adult day health care programs
- Respite care to give family caregivers temporary relief
- Durable medical equipment prescribed by a physician
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid)
- Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid): hcpf.colorado.gov
- HCPF member contact line: 1-800-221-3943
Related guides
Medicaid for Seniors
How Medicaid pays for nursing home and long-term care for older adults.
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