Updated June 15, 2026
Starting January 1, 2027, a new federal law will require some adults from age 19 to 64 to comply with work requirements to keep or get Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program).
- To comply, these adults will need to complete and report they worked, volunteered or attended school at least 80 hours in a month or earn at least $580 from paid work.
- People can also complete a combination of these activities to comply.
⚠️ People who do not comply with work requirements or renew on time, will lose their health coverage.
- Some adults age 19 to 64 will also need to complete their renewals every 6 months instead of once a year. [Learn more about 6-month renewals]
If this rule applies to you, Health First Colorado will send you a letter in the fall of 2026.
You are likely not affected if you are:
- A child (0 to 18)
- An adult age 65 or older
- Current members who were pregnant within the last 12 months, or are currently pregnant
- Enrolled in long-term services and supports (LTSS) or buy-in programs
On this page:
— Who must comply with work requirements
— Who does not need to comply with work requirements
— How to comply with work requirements
Who must comply with work requirements:
Adults ages 19 to 64 who are applying for or renewing their coverage who
- Are not enrolled in LTSS or buy-in program, and
- Do not show that they comply with any of the approved reasons listed directly below
Who does not need to comply with work requirements:
Age
- Children 18 or younger
- Adults 65 or older
Caregivers
- Parents, guardians or caretaker relatives or family caregivers for a child 13 or younger
- Parents, guardians or caretaker relatives or family caregivers responsible for caring for a person of any age who has a disability
Living situation
- People living in a jail, prison or some halfway houses, now or in the past 3 months
Pregnancy
- Current Health First Colorado members who were pregnant within the last 12 months, or are currently pregnant
Medical conditions
- People enrolled in a LTSS program
- People enrolled in Medicaid buy-in programs (Working Adults or Children’s)
- Veterans with a service-connected disability that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has determined to be total and permanent
- People who are medically frail. A person is considered medically frail if they:
- Are blind or have a disability
- Have a substance use disorder
- Have a disabling mental health condition
- Have a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability that makes it hard to do daily activities
- Have a serious or complex medical condition
- People enrolled in treatment or rehab for a mental health or substance use disorder
- People who qualify or are enrolled in Medicare
- People who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Administration (SSA) income, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Population
- American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) who qualify for Indian Health Services (IHS)
- Former foster youth age 19 to 26
How to comply the work requirements
You can comply with work requirements by either completing 80 hours of approved activities or earning at least $580 from paid work or a combination of these.
- First time applicants: In the calendar month before they submit their application, will need to show that they
- earned at least $580, or
- spent at least 80 hours working, going to school, participating in a work program, volunteering, or a combination of these activities
- Current members who are renewing: In at least 1 calendar month since their last renewal deadline, will need to show they
- earned at least $580 or
- spent at least 80 hours, going to school, participating in a work program, volunteering, or a combination of these activities
Activities that count towards complying with the work requirement
Complete 80 hours of one (or a mix) of the following activities:
| Category | Example |
|---|---|
| Work |
|
| School or training |
|
| Community engagement |
|
