(updated August 4, 2026)
Work requirements do not apply to:
Age
- Children age 18 or younger
- Adults age 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
- People living in a hospital, nursing home or other long-term care facility now or in the past three months
Pregnancy
- Current Health First Colorado members who were pregnant within the last 12 months, or are currently pregnant
Health conditions
- People living with a drug or alcohol use disorder that prevents them from completing 80 hours per month of work, school, and/or volunteer activities
- People in recovery from a drug or alcohol use disorder for 5 years or less that prevents them from completing 80 hours per month of work, school, and/or volunteer activities
- People living with a physical, intellectual, or developmental disability that makes it hard to do daily activities and that prevents them from completing 80 hours per month of work, school, and/or volunteer activities
- People living with a disabling mental health disorder that prevents them from completing 80 hours per month of work, school, and/or volunteer activities
- People living with a serious health condition that requires regular treatment that prevents them from completing 80 hours per month of work, school, and/or volunteer activities
- People who are blind and their condition prevents them from completing 80 hours per month of work, school, and/or volunteer activities
Health coverage and benefits
- People enrolled in a Medicaid Buy-in Programs (Working Adults or Children)
- People receiving long-term care services (for example, in a nursing home or through home-based care)
- People receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- People who qualify or are enrolled in Medicare
- People in a treatment program for drug or alcohol use disorder
- People who comply with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Colorado’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work requirements
Population
- American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) who are eligible for Indian Health Services (IHS), a Tribal Health program, or an Urban Indian Health program; or who have received services from Indian Health Services (IHS), a Tribal Health program, or an Urban Indian Health program, now or in the past
- People who were in foster care when they turned 18 and who are now between ages 19 and 26
- Veterans with a service-connected disability that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has determined to have either a 100% disability rating (temporary or permanent); or a Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU), even if their combined disability rating is below 100%
If Health First Colorado needs more information to decide if you must meet work requirements, we will send you a letter. Open and respond to letters from Health First Colorado right away. Use our screener tool to find out if you might be affected by Medicaid work requirements.