No. Members enrolled in long-term services and supports (LTSS), Medicaid buy-in programs or home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers will continue with a 12-month renewal cycle.
Can a family ask to have their renewals all at the same time?
No. Families cannot ask to have their renewals all at the same time, that is, synchronized. Renewals are based on each person, so members in the same household may have different renewal dates. Renewal dates may sometimes align when member renewal periods overlap or when coverage can be renewed for all members at ex parte.
When will Health First Colorado members who were renewed for 12 months in 2026 need to complete their renewal?
If health coverage was approved for a full 12-month period before January 2027, the renewal date will remain the same.
For example, if your health coverage was renewed in May 2026, then your next renewal date will be May 2027. However, if a member reports a change or there is an update that affects a member’s eligibility, the renewal date may change.
Will immigrants who no longer qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) be auto-enrolled in Emergency Medicaid Services?
It depends. If an immigrant has previously selected Emergency Medicaid Services and Reproductive Health Care Services (EMS/RHCS) on their application, they may be automatically enrolled in EMS/RHCS after October 1, 2026.
If an immigrant did not select EMS/RHCS on their application before October 1, 2026, they will not be automatically enrolled.
Immigrants who will lose Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) coverage because of federal changes should apply for EMS/RHCS before October 1, 2026.
For immigrants who are pregnant, do they need to provide status documents such as work permits to get approved for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program)?
Pregnant immigrants need to provide identification (a full name, date of birth) so that their status can be verified. They may also provide documentation such as an I-551 or I-94.
A person who is undocumented or not lawfully present status would not need to provide documentation as it is assumed that they do not have documentation.
However, for applications they will still need to provide name, date of birth, address and a signature, etc.
Will immigrant members who lose Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) automatically qualify for Cover All Coloradans (CAC) or other programs, or will they need to re-apply for CAC?
If, as a result of these federal changes, an immigrant no longer qualifies for Health First Colorado, we will check to see if they qualify for Emergency Medicaid Services/Reproductive Health Care Services.
Cover All Coloradans (CAC) may be considered if that person does not fall into another category. CAC only covers pregnant/postpartum women and children 18 and younger who do not have a legal immigration status.
When will immigrants affected by these federal changes lose their Medicaid coverage?
Immigrants affected by the federal changes will lose their coverage as of October 1, 2026.
Will immigrants who have been trafficked lose Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) coverage?
As of October 1, 2026, survivors of trafficking with a pending or approved application for a victim of trafficking visa will no longer qualify for Health First Colorado.
Will immigrants in the affected groups who are pregnant and those under 18 lose coverage as of October 1, 2026, or will they be automatically covered under Cover All Coloradans?
Whether a pregnant person or child 18 or younger qualifies for Health First Colorado or Cover All Coloradans depends on legal immigration status.
If a pregnant person or child 18 or younger no longer meets qualified immigrant status AND they are lawfully present, they will continue with their current health coverage.
Example: As of October 1, 2026, refugees no longer qualify for Medicaid. However, if the refugee currently receives Medicaid, is pregnant and is lawfully present, then they may continue to qualify for Medicaid.
If a pregnant person or child 18 or younger no longer meets qualified immigrant status AND they are NOT lawfully present, they may qualify for Cover All Coloradans.
Example: As of October 1, 2026, refugees no longer qualify for Health First Colorado. However, if the refugee is pregnant but is not lawfully present due to expired documents, then they may qualify for Cover All Coloradans.
Will people with pending green card applications lose Medicaid coverage?
Starting October 1, 2026, people with pending applications for permanent resident cards (green cards) will no longer be eligible for Medicaid.