Health Coverage Resources
Are you uninsured, looking for health coverage and wondering about your options?
There are many programs that can help you with health care costs including Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program), the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), Connect for Health Colorado’s Marketplace, the Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP), sliding fee scales offered at community health clinics, hospital and clinic patient assistance programs, and prescription assistance programs. Click on the following links to find programs that best meet your needs.
Click on the category that best describes you below to find out what health programs you may qualify for:
I’m pregnant
Health First Colorado and the Child Health Plan Plus
If you are pregnant and uninsured, you and your family might all qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or for the Child Health Plus (CHP+). Both programs provide health coverage for people with lower incomes and who meet certain criteria. Here are the monthly income limits:
In order to get discounted care through CICP, you need to apply at and get care from a participating clinic or hospital. Here’s a list of CICP clinics and hospitals.
For more information, click here.
There are no premiums for either program. Small copayments may be charged for some services.
You can apply anytime during the year.
To apply online, visit the PEAK website. You can also see if you qualify for other programs like Food or Cash Assistance on this site.
To apply by mail, download the application here and return it to your county Department of Human Services.
To get help with your application, visit a local application assistance site.
To apply by phone, call 1-800-221-3943 / State relay: 711.
Connect for Health Colorado
If you earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you might qualify for help paying your insurance premiums (Advanced Premium Tax Credits) and with your out-of-pocket expenses (Cost Sharing Reductions) through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s health insurance marketplace.
Generally, you can only enroll through Connect for Health Colorado during open enrollment unless you have a qualifying event, like moving, losing job-based coverage, no longer qualifying for Health First Colorado. To see the whole list of qualifying events, click here.
To be eligible Cost Sharing Reductions, you must purchase a silver level plan.
To learn more about insurance, explore your options, apply, and find places to get help with your application see Connect for Health Colorado’s website.
Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP)
CICP is not insurance. Instead, it gives discounts on some health services to people with lower incomes who are uninsured and who don’t qualify for Health First Colorado, CHP+, or financial assistance through Connect for Health Colorado. Here are the income limits:
Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers offer primary and preventative care including dental care and mental health services and don’t turn people away because of their ability to pay. If you are uninsured and don’t qualify for Health First Colorado, CHP+, or financial assistance through Connect for Health Colorado, you’ll be screened for the Colorado Indigent Care Program or the clinic’s own sliding fee scale. To find a community health center near you and for more information see the Colorado Community Health Network’s website.
Pregnant women and children who qualify for Medicaid or CHP+ receive temporary medical coverage during the process of verifying eligibility for Medicaid and CHP+. You can visit a Presumptive Eligibility (PE) Site in order to apply for this temporary coverage.
You will need to submit an application for Medicaid/CHP+, declare your income at or below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and provide documentation of legal immigration status or citizenship.
Once granted PE, all medical services provided under Medicaid/CHP+ will be provided for clients for the time the application is being processed (up to 45 days).
Click here to find an eligibility site or call 1.800.221.3493 for more information.
I have children
If you have children who currently uninsured, you, your child/children, and your partner might all qualify for Health First Colorado or the Child Health Plus (CHP+). Both programs provide medical insurance for people with lower incomes and who meet certain criteria. Take a look at the monthly income limits for Health First Colorado and CHP+.
- There are no premiums. Small copayments may be charged for some services.
- There is no open enrollment period which means that you can apply anytime during the year.
- To apply online, visit the PEAK website. You can also see if you qualify for other programs like Food or Cash Assistance on this site.
- To apply by mail, download the application here and return it to your county Department of Human Services.
- To apply in person, visit a local application assistance site.
- To apply by phone, call 1-800-221-3943 / State relay: 711.
- Generally, you can only enroll through Connect for Health Colorado during open enrollment unless you have a qualifying event, like moving, losing job-based coverage, no longer qualifying for Health First Colorado. To see the whole list of qualifying events, click here.
- To learn more about insurance, explore your options, apply, and find places to get help with your application see Connect for Health Colorado’s website.
- In order to get discounted care through CICP, you need to apply at and get care from a participating clinic or hospital. Here’s a list of CICP clinics and hospitals.
- For more information, click here.
Connect for Health Colorado
If you earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you might qualify for help paying your insurance premiums (Advanced Premium Tax Credits) and with your out-of-pocket expenses (Cost Sharing Reductions) through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s health insurance marketplace.
Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP)
CICP is not insurance. Instead, it gives discounts on some health services to people with lower incomes who are uninsured and who don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+. Here are the income requirements:
Community Health Centers
Community health centers (CHC) offer primary and preventative care including dental care and mental health services and don’t turn people away because of their ability to pay. If you are uninsured or don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you’ll be screened the Colorado Indigent Care Program or the clinics own sliding fee scale. To find a community health center near you and for more information see the Colorado Community Health Network’s website.
I'm pregnant and need care right away/ my child needs care right away
Pregnant women and children who appear to qualify for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and CHP+ can receive immediate, temporary coverage while they wait for their application to be processed.
- If your child is approved for PE, most services that regular Health First Colorado and CHP+ provide are covered EXCEPT in-patient hospital care, including labor and delivery, through Health First Colorado and dental services for children enrolled in CHP+.
- PE lasts until you know if you qualify for ongoing coverage.
- Visit a Presumptive Eligibility (PE) Site to apply.
I am a young adult (18-25) or am looking for insurance for my young adult children:
Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and the Child Health Plan Plus
Young adults, their children, and their spouse might all qualify for Health First Colorado or the Child Health Plus (CHP+). Both programs provide medical insurance for people with lower incomes and who meet certain criteria. Here are the monthly income limits:
There are no premiums. Small copayments may be charged for some services.
There is no open enrollment period which means that you can apply anytime during the year.
To apply online, visit the PEAK website. You can also see if you qualify for other programs like Food or Cash Assistance on this site.
To apply by mail, download the application here and return it to your county Department of Human Services.
To apply in person, visit a local application assistance site.
To apply by phone, call 1-800-221-3943 / State relay: 711.
Connect for Health Colorado
If you earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you might qualify for help paying your insurance premiums (Advanced Premium Tax Credits) and with your out-of-pocket expenses (Cost Sharing Reductions) through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s health insurance marketplace.
Generally, you can only enroll through Connect for Health Colorado during open enrollment unless you have a qualifying event, like moving, losing job-based coverage, no longer qualifying for Health First Colorado. To see the whole list of qualifying events, click here.
To be eligible for Advanced Premium Tax Credits and Cost Sharing Reductions, you must purchase a silver level plan.
To learn more about insurance, explore your options, apply, and find places to get help with your application see Connect for Health Colorado’s website.
Kaiser Permanente Colorado Bridge Program
If you are under age 30, uninsured, and don’t have access to other health you might qualify for Kaiser Permanente’s Colorado Bridge program. Applicants must live within the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado service area and earn less than 300% of the federal poverty level ($3,035 per month for an individual). For more information see Kaiser Permanent’s website.
Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP)
CICP is not insurance. Instead, it gives discounts on some health services to people with lower incomes who are uninsured and who don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+. Here are the income requirements:
In order to get discounted care through CICP, you need to apply at and get care from a participating clinic or hospital. Here’s a list of CICP clinics and hospitals.
For more information, click here.
Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers offer primary and preventative care including dental care and mental health services and don’t turn people away because of their ability to pay. If you are uninsured or don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you’ll be screened the Colorado Indigent Care Program or the clinics own sliding fee scale. To find a community health center near you and for more information see the Colorado Community Health Network’s website.
I am a documented immigrant
If you immigrated to the United States and have documentation, then you might qualify for Health First Colorado or, if you’re pregnant or under age 19, the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). Both programs provide medical insurance for people with lower incomes and who meet certain criteria. For more information on eligibility for immigrants, click here. Here are the monthly income requirements:
?
There are no premiums. Small copayments may be charged for some services.
There is no open enrollment period which means that you can apply anytime during the year.
To apply online, visit the PEAK website. You can also see if you qualify for other programs like Food or Cash Assistance on this site.
To apply by mail, download the application here and return it to your county Department of Human Services.
To apply in person, visit a local application assistance site.
To apply by phone, call 1-800-221-3943 / State relay: 711.
Connect for Health Colorado
If you don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you might qualify for help paying your insurance premiums (Advanced Premium Tax Credits) and with your out-of-pocket expenses (Cost Sharing Reductions) through Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado’s health insurance marketplace.
Generally, you can only enroll through Connect for Health Colorado during open enrollment unless you have a qualifying event, like moving, losing job-based coverage, no longer qualifying for Health First Colorado. To see the whole list of qualifying events, click here.
To be eligible for Advanced Premium Tax Credits and Cost Sharing Reductions, you must purchase a silver level plan.
To learn more about insurance, explore your options, apply, and find places to get help with your application see Connect for Health Colorado’s website.
Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP)
CICP is not insurance. Instead, it gives discounts on some health services to people with lower incomes who are uninsured and who don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+. Here are the income requirements:
Community Health Centers
Community Health Centers offer primary and preventative care including dental care and mental health services and don’t turn people away because of their ability to pay. If you are uninsured or don’t qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+, you’ll be screened the Colorado Indigent Care Program or the clinics own sliding fee scale. To find a community health center near you and for more information see the Colorado Community Health Network’s website.
My children were born in the US
If you have a child or children born in the United States, they may be eligible for Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), depending on your income. Both programs provide medical insurance for people with lower incomes and who meet certain criteria. When applying for Health First Colorado and CHP+ for your children, you do not need to provide any information about your own documentation status. Here are the monthly income limits:
There are no premiums and children and pregnant women are not charged co-payments. Adults pay small fees for some medical services.
There is no open enrollment period which means that you can apply anytime during the year.
To apply online, visit the PEAK website. You can also see if you qualify for other programs like Food or Cash Assistance on this site.
To apply by mail, download the application here and return it to your county Department of Human Services.
To apply in person, visit a local application assistance site.
To apply by phone, call 1-800-221-3943 / State relay: 711.
Emergency Health First Colorado
All people living in Colorado, regardless of their documentation status, might qualify for Emergency Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program). Emergency Health First Colorado provides short term coverage for emergency medical conditions including the birth of a baby. To apply for emergency coverage, you will need a form from your doctor documenting the emergency and you will need to complete an application.
I have a disability / my child has a disability
Early Intervention Colorado
If you have a child under age 3, you might be eligible for Early Intervention (EI) Colorado. EI is a program that provides a system of support and services for families who have children, birth to up to the third birthday, who have significant delays in development, or who have been diagnosed with a physical or mental condition associated with significant delays in development. For more information on EI Colorado, call 1-888-777-4041 or click here.
Health First Colorado Programs
- The Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Children with Disabilities lets families of children with a disability to ‘buy-into’ Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program). If your child and/or your family earns too much for Health First Colorado or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) your child may qualify.
- Your child must be under the age of 19,
- Your child must have a qualifying disability. The Social Security Administration (SSA) listings describes what disabilities qualify, and
- Your family income must be below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For example, a family of four making about $6,150 a month may qualify.
- For more information see the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing’s website.
- Health First Colorado offers additional programs for lower income families that serve children with disabilities. These waiver programs provide additional Health First Colorado benefits to specific populations who meet certain eligibility criteria.
- Click here to learn more about these programs
- Or visit your County Department of Human Services
I am an adult with a disability:
Health First Colorado
- If you have been determined blind or disabled by the Social Security Administration (SSA) Standards, you might qualify for Health First Colorado.
- If you are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you will automatically receive Health First Colorado.
- If you are already on SSI, but not aware that you are eligible for Health First Colorado, visit your County’s Department Human Services
- If you haven’t yet applied for SSI you can apply at an SSA field office.
- You may be eligible for Long-Term Care or a Home and Community Based Services waiver if you meet the eligibility criteria including financial eligibility requirements. Waiver programs provide additional Health First Colorado benefits to populations who meet certain criteria.
- Click here to learn more about these programs.
- Or visit your County Department of Human Services.
- You might also be able to buy-in to Health First Colorado. The Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities allows adults who earn too much income to qualify for Regular Health First Colorado enroll by paying a monthly premium based on their income. In order to be eligible, you must be between the ages of 16 and 64, have a qualifying disability as determined using Social Security Administration medical criteria, be working and have income that does not exceed 450% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). About half of your earned income is disregarded in determining your income for this program.
Medicare
If you have been receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Rail Road Retirement Benefits RB benefits for 24 months, you are eligible for Medicare. Medicare is the federal medical insurance program designated for people over the age of 65 and for certain people with disabilities. Click here for more information and to enroll.
I am 65 or older
- If you are 65 or older and a citizen of the United States, you are eligible for Medicare. Medicare is federal health insurance. It has different parts: Part A provides premium-free Hospital Insurance. Part B provides medical insurance for a premium and Part D provides Prescription Drug Coverage for an additional premium. There are also options called Medicare Advantage Plans that offer a range of different insurance plans. Click here to learn more about Medicare and to apply or call 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227).
- You may also be eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare if you meet income requirements. Medicaid will help lower the costs associated with Medicare and also covers long-term care. Call the Medicare helpline at 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) and ask about Medicare Savings Programs.
I need prescription drug assistance
- You may be able to get assistance accessing prescription medications through the Colorado Drug Card program, which is a statewide discount prescription assistance program accepted by 56,000 pharmacies nationwide. All Colorado residents are eligible to receive a free prescription drug card that can discount prescriptions at participating pharmacies.
- The Colorado Drug Card can be used as a standalone benefit or to get discounts on non-covered drugs. Your pharmacist can run your Colorado Drug Card and your health insurance card to see which will give you the best price for a particular prescription. You can download your card at www.ColoradoDrugCard.com.
Need Help?
VIVOR: We Can Help You Manage Prescription Drug Costs
Drug costs are disproportionately higher in the U.S. than in other countries, and they are continuing to rise. These high costs are a substantial barrier for many. Fortunately, CCHI has a new tool, VIVOR, that can help you get more affordable prescriptions.
If you are struggling with the high cost of prescription drugs, we encourage you to reach out to us and set up a VIVOR profile. After we build your unique profile, VIVOR matches you with underused, money-saving resources.
Finding Coverage and Care in Colorado During COVID19
The public health and economic crises that have been created by the COVID-19 pandemic have created a great deal of uncertainty and highlighted the need for a robust and responsive safety net. In Colorado and across the country, government, business, the nonprofit sector and, of course, the health care system are rapidly responding with ways to assist. The following is a list of resources for accessing health coverage and health care.
Surprise Medical Bills
Sometimes, people get care from a health care provider such as a doctor, anesthesiologist, or radiologist, who is not in their health insurance plan’s network even though the care they received was at an in-network facility. This can happen if you have surgery at an in-network facility and it turns out that someone on the surgical team, like the anesthesiologist or surgical assistant, is not. It can also happen if you go to an emergency room that is in your network and the doctor who takes care of you does not accept your insurance. After the services are received, you might get a surprise bill in the mail saying you owe the out-of-network provider money. This is called a “balance bill”.
Hospital Financial Assistance
In Colorado, hospitals are required to offer financial assistance programs for qualifying people. Every hospital is supposed to have an established discount program for uninsured patients that earn less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (click here to see if your income qualifies). If you qualify, you shouldn’t have to pay more than the lowest negotiated rate paid by an insurance company. This is a minimum standard, though, and some hospitals have financial assistance programs that provide more generous relief for more people. So be sure to ask about your financial assistance options. To learn more about hospital-specific financial assistance and charity care programs go here.
Guide to Types of Health Insurance
This guide will help you understand your options for getting health insurance for you and your family in Colorado, either through a job or on your own.
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative
303 E 17th Ave, Suite 400
Denver, CO 80203
303.839.1261
General: inform@cohealthinitiative.org
Assistance: help@cohealthinitiative.org
Media: ptelang@cohealthinitiative.org
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