Frequently Asked Questions: Applying For Coverage

If you applied for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), you can check your application status online through Colorado PEAK.

Even if you applied by mail, in-person, or over the phone, you can still create a Colorado PEAK account and find out the status of your application online. It may take up to 45 days — or up to 90 days if the application requires a disability determination — from the date your application was received for a case number to be assigned to you. Once you are assigned a case number, you can check your status and benefits online through Colorado PEAK. Get more information about your case number and where to find it.

See the Apply Now page to apply for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program).

If you need help with a technical issue on the Colorado.gov/PEAK website, such as password resets, error messages, or problems with navigation, call the PEAK Technical Support Call Center at 1-800-250-7741.

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Note: The PEAK Technical Support Call Center is closed on state holidays.

When you fill out an application for Medical Assistance, our systems checks to see what program you may qualify for. We check to see if you qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Health First Colorado is for low income Coloradans who make less than about $1,250 a month for an individual. CHP+ is for low income children and pregnant women who make too much to qualify for Health First Colorado.

Consumers have multiple options to apply for Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). If you apply online through PEAK it should take you as little as 30 minutes to complete the application. If you apply on the phone, in person or by mail, it may take longer.

Consumers have multiple options to apply for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program). If you apply online through PEAK it should take you about 30 minutes to complete the application. If you apply on the phone, in person or by mail, it may take longer.

If you apply online through Colorado.gov/PEAK, you may be able to find out right away if you qualify for CHP+. If you apply on the phone, in person, or by mail, it may take longer.

See: About Child Health Plan Plus

If you apply online through PEAK you may find out if you qualify immediately. If you apply by mail, it may take up to 45 days to find out if you qualify.

Get more information regarding privacy policies and laws.

Yes. If you are a tax dependent of someone else, you need to include their income information on your application. If you do not know it, you will need to contact that person to get their income information.

Visit Connect for Health Colorado for more information about buying insurance through the marketplace.

We need your Social Security Number when you apply. We use this information to verify your identity.

You do not have to provide proof of income if we can verify your identify. Proof of income can be documents such as your paystubs or employer letter. When you apply, we accept how much you say your current or prior month’s income is. After you are enrolled, we make sure the income you provided is correct. We check your income with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

You may need to give us more information if we are not able to verify your identify. We will send you a letter if we need more information from you to see if you qualify.

Federal law requires all applicants seeking financial assistance for purchasing insurance through the Connect for Health Colorado marketplace to be screened for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) first. Health First Colorado and CHP+ are free or low cost public health insurance.  Once it is determined a person does not qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, they can apply for financial assistance to buy insurance through the marketplace.

The shared Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Connect for Health Colorado application must check for all Health First Colorado programs (including those programs for individuals with disabilities). You may be asked questions about your assets on the application. We will only ask you information about your assets if it appears you or someone else on the application may need additional Health First Colorado benefits for individuals who are aged, need Medicare premium assistance, or need long term services and supports. The asset question will not impact eligibility for those who are not seeking additional Health First Colorado benefits.

If you have questions about your individual or family’s circumstances please contact your local county human services office for help over the phone or in person.

You can apply for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) at any time. Health First Colorado and CHP+ do not have open enrollment periods. Get more information about how to apply.

When an online application for Medical Assistance through Colorado.gov/PEAK or ConnectforHealthCO.com receives immediate approval or denial. It is important to fill out your application for Medical Assistance completely and accurately to increase your ability to find out right away if you qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+).

For certain programs like those for individuals with disabilities, who are aged (65+), who need Medicare premium assistance, or who need long term care services, Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) is required to ask about assets in order to process an application.  In certain cases assets can count toward determining eligibility because these programs can have different benefits than regular Health First Colorado. Since the federal government has different rules for eligibility for these programs, Health First Colorado is required to ask the asset question.

While the question is included in the joint application, assets are not counted against families applying for regular Health First Colorado and do not count towards eligibility for the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) program. There are no asset tests for these programs.

The question is only on the application for those who are needing additional benefits provided through the long term care and aged or disabled Health First Colorado programs.

If you have questions about your individual or family’s circumstances please call the Health First Colorado Member Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943.

Some examples of assets include cash, other resources (investments), or real or personal property such as a second home or second vehicles. Primary homes and the primary vehicle are exempt.

You can apply for financial assistance to help you buy insurance through the Connect for Health Colorado. The 2020 open enrollment period will begin November 1, 2019 and ends January 15, 2020.

Outside of open enrollment, you can still shop for insurance but cannot apply for financial assistance to help lower the costs of your plan unless you have a Qualifying Life Event.

In general, health plans paid for before the 15th of the month will take effect on the first of the next month.  Health plans paid for after the 15th of the month will take effect on the first of the next following month, (i.e., a plan paid for on January 20, 2020 will become effective March 1, 2020). For more information about the Connect for Health Colorado open enrollment period visit ConnectforHealthCO.com.

You can apply for Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) at any time. CHP+ does not have an open enrollment period. Get more information about CHP+.

Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) take applications year round and do not have an open enrollment period. You can research and apply for insurance affordability programs online at the Connect for Health Colorado and PEAK websites, in person, by mail, or over the phone. Get more information.

If you qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program), your benefit start date will be back dated to the 1^st of the month in which you applied. If you apply on January 10, 2019, your benefits will be back dated to January 1, 2019.

• Find your local county office.
• Find an application assistance site near you.
• Toll Free: 1-800-221-3943 / State Relay: 711

See: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing: How To Apply

See: How To Apply