Colorado explains how Medicaid work requirements will be checked

Starting January 1, 2027, some adults on Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) must meet a work requirement. Colorado has now posted how it will check this, plus a screening tool and the full list of who is exempt. Many families who care for someone with a disability are exempt.

What's changing

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) updated its "H.R. 1: Key Changes" page. The Work Requirements section is marked Updated October 29, 2026. It now says which month counts.

If you are applying for the first time, you must show you met the requirement:

"in the calendar month before they submit their application"

If you are renewing, you must show you met it:

"in at least 1 calendar month since their last renewal deadline"

Both quotes are from HCPF's H.R. 1: Key Changes page.

The page also links a screening tool to help you check whether you may be affected. The work requirements and 6-month renewals begin January 1, 2027.

Who it affects (and who it doesn't)

This affects adults ages 19 to 64 on Health First Colorado who are not on Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) or a Buy-In program, and who have no exemption. HCPF says that is roughly 377,000 members before exemptions.

These groups are exempt, according to the page:

• Parents, guardians, caretaker relatives, or family caregivers of a child age 13 or younger, or of a person of any age with a disability.
• People who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
• People enrolled in Medicare.
• Veterans with a 100% Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rating or Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
• Young adults 19 to 26 who were in foster care.
• American Indians and Alaska Natives.
• People who meet the work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

It also does not apply to Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver members and others on LTSS, children 18 and under, adults 65 and older, or people who are pregnant or within 12 months after giving birth. The page lists other exempt groups too.

Key dates

• January 1, 2027: Work requirements and 6-month renewals begin.

What you can do

1. Use HCPF's screening tool to check whether you may be affected: healthfirstcolorado.gov/work-requirements-screener.
2. If you care for someone with a disability, or a child 13 or younger, read the exemption list above.
3. Watch for mail from Health First Colorado, and keep a copy of any notice.
4. If you are not sure how this applies to you, ask your case manager.

You can read the full H.R. 1: Key Changes page.