Medicaid renewals have begun in Colorado – here is how to act

Since the declaration of the COVID-19 public health emergency in March 2020, a continuous coverage mandate has kept approximately 1.7 million Coloradans enrolled in their Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) or Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) coverage regardless of changes in their income. However, due to the Congressional Omnibus signed on Dec. 29, 2022, all 1.7 million Coloradans covered through Medicaid/CHP+ must now undergo the renewal process to determine if they can stay enrolled in their health coverage. The first renewal notices have been sent by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF). Current Medicaid and CHP+ members must act on their renewals to avoid gaps in health care coverage.  

HCPF has created a toolkit for providers to send to their Medicaid/CHP+ patients urging them to take action on their renewal packets. Members who receive a letter from HCPF notifying them that they are no longer eligible for coverage through Medicaid or CHP+ are encouraged to apply for coverage on the marketplace on Connect for Health Colorado. Connect for Health will have a 60-day special enrollment period (SEP), and new coverage will take effect on the first day of the month following plan selection.  

A report from the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation’s (ASPE) Office of Health Policy, revealed that of the 5.3 million children nationwide expected to lose their Medicaid or Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage once the continuous coverage mandate ends, 3.8 million will lose coverage solely due to administrative errors. Many states have begun developing and implementing multi-year continuous eligibility policies to ensure that children can maintain their Medicaid coverage, as  short gaps in health coverage can have negative health outcomes for children.   

Multi-year continuous coverage through Medicaid and CHP+ is one of the Colorado Children’s Campaign legislative priorities this year. The Children’s Campaign has been working diligently with a coalition of dedicated partners to expand continuous coverage for children as well as adults from underserved communities.  

More information on the renewal process and how to act for providers, members, community advocates, and organizations can be found on HCPF’s website. If you are interested in learning more about the Children’s Campaign’s multi-year continuous eligibility efforts, please reach out to Erin Miller at erin@coloradokids.org or Hunter Nelson at hunter@coloradokids.org. 

About Hunter Nelson

Hunter works as a Policy Analyst at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. In this role, she supports the Children Campaign’s Vice President of Health Initiatives and other policy staff by assisting in the management of coalitions, maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, conducting relevant data collection and analysis, and coordinating policy advocacy strategies with other Children’s Campaign staff. Before coming to the Children’s Campaign, Hunter served as the Volunteer and Data Specialist for Child Advocates – Denver CASA, interned with the Bell Policy Center, and worked as a research assistant at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. She has also worked with multiple organizations serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness across Metro Denver. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Arizona State University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver.