Losing Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, is a stressful moment, and the cause often matters more than the loss itself. Colorado expanded Medicaid under the ACA in 2014, and since the end of continuous coverage in 2023 the state has run annual renewals that end coverage for two very different reasons. Some members truly earn more than 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of four in 2026. Others lose coverage for procedural reasons, such as a renewal packet sent to an old address or a form returned a few days late. Procedural losses are the most fixable. If your Health First Colorado ended in 2026, you have two clocks running at once: a 60-day Marketplace Special Enrollment Period, and a 60-day window to request a formal hearing on the termination. Use both clocks together instead of choosing between them, because a won appeal or a fresh approval can restore free coverage while a Marketplace plan protects you in the meantime.
Colorado runs its own state-based exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, so residents do not enroll through healthcare.gov. Medicaid applications and renewals go through the Colorado PEAK portal or your county human services office, while Marketplace plans are bought at connectforhealthco.com or by phone with a certified broker or assistance site. Losing Medicaid is a qualifying life event under federal Marketplace SEP rules at healthcare.gov, and Colorado's exchange honors it with a 60-day window. The 2026 enhanced premium tax credits expired on January 1, 2026, so the 400% FPL subsidy cliff ($63,840 for one person in 2026) applies again. Most adults who leave Health First Colorado with income between 138% and 400% FPL still qualify for a premium tax credit, and children can often move to CHP+, Colorado's CHIP. This guide covers seven steps, the documents you need, income tables for 2026, and how COBRA, Marketplace, and Medicaid compare, with Colorado deadlines anchored to real dates.
7 Steps to Get Coverage
Common Mistakes That Cost People Thousands
Colorado residents losing Health First Colorado in 2026 most often lose money or coverage through these mistakes:
- Treating the appeal and the Marketplace SEP as an either-or choice. Both 60-day clocks run at the same time, so file the appeal and enroll in a plan together.
- Attending only an informal county meeting. An informal meeting does not guarantee coverage continues, so request the formal hearing in writing before benefits end.
- Reporting last year's income at Connect for Health Colorado. Premium tax credits use projected 2026 income, and a wrong estimate can create a repayment bill when you file Form 8962 with your 1095-A.
- Skipping the first premium payment. Selecting a plan does not start coverage, and an unpaid first bill leaves you uninsured.
- Buying a short-term plan instead of an ACA plan. Short-term plans can exclude pre-existing conditions and do not count as Marketplace coverage.
Why Colorado Ends Health First Colorado Coverage in 2026
Colorado ends Health First Colorado coverage for three main reasons, and each leads to a different next step. Income-based terminations happen when data from the IRS, employers, or the Social Security Administration shows household income above 138% FPL, which is $22,025 for one person in 2026. Procedural terminations happen when the county does not receive a renewal packet, mail is returned, or a requested document arrives late, even though the member may still qualify. Eligibility-change terminations happen when a member moves out of Colorado, gains other coverage, or ages out of a category. Procedural terminations are the strongest candidates for an appeal or quick reapplication through Colorado PEAK. Income terminations usually point toward a Connect for Health Colorado plan with a premium tax credit. In every case the Notice of Action states the reason, so read it before choosing a path. Call the county the same day, because a quick fix of a missing form is faster than any appeal and can restore free coverage within weeks.
Federal healthcare.gov rules treat loss of Medicaid or CHIP as a qualifying life event that opens a Marketplace Special Enrollment Period, and Colorado's exchange applies a 60-day window. The window begins on the date coverage ends, so a termination dated November 30, 2026 gives you December 1, 2026 through January 29, 2027. Looking ahead, the Open Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage begins November 1, 2026, and the closing date should be confirmed at Connect for Health Colorado. Federal law enacted in 2025 (H.R. 1) also adds work-requirement and six-month renewal rules for expansion adults on Medicaid beginning around January 2027, so ask HCPF how those rules affect your renewal timing. Colorado members should expect new paperwork steps at renewal. Medicaid.gov and HCPF publish updates as Colorado implements the changes, so check both before your next renewal date arrives and keep your mailing address current in Colorado PEAK so notices reach you.
Medicaid Income Limits and Subsidy Thresholds in Colorado 2026
Colorado's Health First Colorado income limit for adults is 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, about $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, and $45,540 for four in 2026, based on the HHS ASPE poverty guidelines at aspe.hhs.gov. Between 138% and 400% FPL, adults qualify for premium tax credits at Connect for Health Colorado, and the credit shrinks as income rises. The 400% FPL cliff, $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for four in 2026, applies again because enhanced federal credits expired January 1, 2026. Households above the cliff pay full premiums. Silver plans add cost-sharing reductions for incomes up to 250% FPL, which can cut deductibles sharply. Because the cliff is back, a small income estimate error near $63,840 can change a Colorado household's credit by thousands of dollars in 2026, so update your income at Connect for Health Colorado whenever it changes. Include wages, unemployment benefits, self-employment profit, and taxable Social Security in your Modified Adjusted Gross Income estimate. Medicaid.gov explains that Health First Colorado looks at current monthly income, while premium tax credits look at your full-year 2026 projection, so the same household can pass one test and fail the other. Check both before deciding.
Connect for Health Colorado Plans After Medicaid: What to Expect in 2026
Connect for Health Colorado sells individual plans from several carriers, and available plans vary by county, so enter your ZIP code before comparing. Premiums after tax credits in 2026 often fall between $10 and $300 per month for adults leaving Medicaid, depending on income, age, and county, according to exchange and KFF Marketplace data. Choose Silver if your income is under 250% FPL, because cost-sharing reductions are only available on Silver plans. Check each plan's network for your doctors and your prescriptions before you pick. Free help is available from certified brokers and assistance sites listed at connectforhealthco.com. After you pay your first premium, keep your confirmation, and in January 2027 save Form 1095-A, which you need to reconcile your 2026 premium tax credit. Children who qualify for CHP+ are enrolled separately from adult Marketplace plans. Plan to renew every year during Open Enrollment, which begins November 1, 2026 for 2027 coverage, and recheck your income then so your credit stays accurate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to enroll in a Connect for Health Colorado plan after losing Medicaid?
You have 60 days from the date your Health First Colorado coverage ends to enroll in a Connect for Health Colorado plan under the Marketplace Special Enrollment Period. For example, if your Medicaid ends November 30, 2026, your window runs December 1, 2026 through January 29, 2027. Choose a plan inside that 60-day window and your coverage generally starts the first day of the month after you pick it. Healthcare.gov explains the federal loss-of-coverage rule, and the exchange confirms the exact dates in your account. Confirm your end date on the Notice of Action before you count days.
How do I document my Medicaid loss for the Special Enrollment Period?
Documents proving the qualifying life event come mainly from your Notice of Action, the letter from your county or Health First Colorado stating the date coverage ends. Upload it to your Connect for Health Colorado account when asked. Also gather Social Security numbers, proof of Colorado residency, and proof of projected 2026 income such as pay stubs or an unemployment award letter. If you lack the notice, call Health First Colorado at 1-800-221-3943 and request a copy. Keep every document, because the exchange can ask for more proof after you enroll.
What if I miss the 60-day window after losing Health First Colorado?
Missing the 60-day Marketplace window generally means waiting for Open Enrollment, which begins November 1, 2026 for 2027 coverage; confirm the closing date at Connect for Health Colorado. Until then you could be uninsured unless another qualifying life event opens a new window. Health First Colorado has no deadline, so if your 2026 income is at or below 138% FPL ($22,025 for one person) you can reapply through Colorado PEAK at any time. CHP+ for children is also year-round. File the appeal and the Marketplace application early to avoid this gap.
Can I get retroactive coverage after losing Medicaid in Colorado?
Retroactive coverage depends on the path. If you win a formal hearing and the state reverses the termination, Health First Colorado coverage is generally restored without a gap. Marketplace coverage is not retroactive: it starts the first day of the month after plan selection, so pay the first premium promptly. When you reapply for Medicaid and are approved, ask HCPF whether coverage can reach back for recent unpaid medical bills, because Medicaid can sometimes cover up to three months before the application month. Confirm current rules with HCPF at hcpf.colorado.gov.
What is the difference between COBRA and Connect for Health Colorado after losing Medicaid?
COBRA applies only if you also recently lost an employer plan, and it costs 102% of the full premium, often $700 to $2,000 per month in 2026. Connect for Health Colorado plans can cost $10 to $300 per month after premium tax credits in 2026 for many adults between 138% and 400% FPL. COBRA keeps your old network and any deductible you already met, while Marketplace plans may change your providers. Both the COBRA election and the Marketplace SEP last 60 days, so compare them before either deadline passes.
What Colorado-specific rules apply after losing Health First Colorado?
Colorado uses its own exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, instead of healthcare.gov. You request a formal hearing in writing within 60 days of the Notice of Action, and filing before benefits end lets you ask that coverage continue. CHP+ is Colorado's CHIP for children and pregnant members. Colorado also has state insurance rules about continuation of some employer coverage, so ask the Colorado Division of Insurance whether they apply. Colorado expanded Medicaid in 2014, which means adults at or below 138% FPL in 2026 generally qualify.
Do I qualify for Health First Colorado again after losing it?
You likely qualify again if your projected 2026 household income is at or below 138% FPL: $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, $37,702 for three, and $45,540 for four. Medicaid uses current monthly income, so a recent drop in pay, hours, or household size can restore eligibility even if you were terminated earlier. Reapply through Colorado PEAK or your county office with fresh income proof. If your income is above 138% FPL, a Connect for Health Colorado plan with a premium tax credit is the usual next step.
What happens to my children's coverage if I lose my own Medicaid?
Children are evaluated separately and often keep or gain coverage even when a parent loses Health First Colorado. If household income is above the Medicaid limit for children, CHP+ (Child Health Plan Plus), Colorado's CHIP, may cover them, and pregnant members can also qualify. CHP+ enrollment is year-round through Colorado PEAK or 1-800-359-1991, with low or no premiums depending on 2026 income. Report your children on your application so the county can screen each child and avoid a gap in coverage while you move to a Marketplace plan.
