How Medicaid Is Organized in Colorado

Colorado calls its Medicaid program Health First Colorado. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, known as HCPF, is the state agency that sets the rules, pays providers and answers to federal regulators. HCPF is not where most people hand over paperwork, though. Colorado uses a state-supervised, county-administered model, so county human or social services departments take applications, check eligibility and process changes for local residents.

That split explains why a Medicaid office in Colorado looks different from one county to the next. Denver is a combined city and county, so Denver Human Services serves as the local agency. In smaller counties the same work usually sits inside a department of human services that also handles food assistance and cash programs. A shared statewide eligibility system, the Colorado Benefits Management System, links every county, and the online portal Colorado PEAK feeds applications into it.

Colorado expanded Medicaid in 2014. Adults aged 19 to 64 can qualify when household income is at or below roughly 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The program also covers children, pregnant women, parents and caretaker relatives, older adults and people with disabilities. Families whose income is a little too high for children's Medicaid may qualify for Child Health Plan Plus, known as CHP+. Rules for older adults and people with disabilities can add resource limits and long-term care criteria, so those applications often need more documentation.

Long-term care and disability services add another layer. Home and community-based services waivers, which help people stay at home instead of entering a nursing facility, are managed through case management agencies rather than the county counter. If you or a family member needs those services, expect a functional assessment in addition to the financial review, and start the process early.

Medicaid Offices Listed in Denver and Glenwood Springs

Our directory currently lists two Colorado offices, one on each side of the Rocky Mountains. The Denver Colorado Medicaid Office is at 1575 Sherman Street in Denver, in Denver County, and the listed phone number is 303-866-2413. The Glenwood Springs Colorado Medicaid Office is at 108 8th Street in Glenwood Springs, in Garfield County, with the listed number 970-945-9191.

Two listings do not mean only two places serve the state. Colorado has 64 counties, and each one has a local agency that can handle Medicaid business. Treat the listings as useful starting points, then call before you travel to confirm hours, whether you need an appointment and which services are handled in person.

Denver is Colorado's largest city, and because it is also a county, its Medicaid caseload is large. A walk-in visit there can involve a wait, so a phone call or a PEAK application often gets things moving faster.

If you live in Denver, browse the Denver County page for the listing and nearby details. Residents of the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys can check the Garfield County page. Glenwood Springs is the Garfield County seat, so county services are centered there rather than in smaller towns such as Rifle, Carbondale or Parachute.

Front Range, Western Slope and Rural Colorado Compared

Where you live shapes how you use Medicaid in Colorado more than almost any other factor. In the Denver metro area, many residents apply online or by phone, and those who prefer paper can reach an agency by RTD bus or rail. Dense areas such as Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs also have more clinics, specialists and hospitals that accept Health First Colorado.

West of the Continental Divide the picture changes. Garfield County stretches along Interstate 70 from Glenwood Springs toward Parachute, and winter weather or canyon closures can turn a routine trip into a long detour. In ranching and mountain counties, housing costs are high while seasonal wages vary from month to month.

Resort communities add one more wrinkle. Workers in ski and tourism towns may see income swing sharply between winter and summer. Report changes honestly rather than guessing, because the county will use your documented income to decide eligibility.

Eastern plains and San Luis Valley counties face long distances between clinics. Colorado's answer is partly structural. Every Health First Colorado member belongs to the Accountable Care Collaborative, where a Regional Accountable Entity for your part of the state coordinates primary care and behavioral health. Your region follows your home address, so moving between counties can change who coordinates your care.

Members without a ride can ask about the non-emergency medical transportation benefit, which covers trips to covered appointments. Telehealth visits also help rural members reach specialists without driving hours over mountain passes.

What to Bring and When to Go for Colorado Medicaid Help

Preparing before you go saves a second trip. Colorado agencies generally ask for the same core items, whether you apply online, by phone or at a counter:

Go early in the day, bring copies rather than only originals, and ask for a receipt or confirmation number. If English is not your first language, ask for an interpreter when you call, because agencies that receive federal funds must provide language assistance. A Colorado PEAK account also lets you upload documents from a phone, which can replace a visit entirely.

Timing matters after enrollment as well. Coverage is generally reviewed once a year, and since pandemic-era continuous coverage ended in 2023, members who miss a renewal notice can lose coverage. Keep your mailing address current, check your PEAK account regularly and respond by the date printed on the notice.

Next Steps After You Apply for Health First Colorado

After you submit an application, the county agency reviews it and may request more documents. Federal rules generally allow up to 45 days for a decision, and longer when a disability determination is required. Watch your mail and your PEAK inbox, because a missed request is a common reason an application stalls.

If you are approved, you receive a Health First Colorado member ID and information about your Regional Accountable Entity. Show the card at every appointment and pharmacy visit, and ask providers to confirm they accept Health First Colorado before you book.

If you are denied or your coverage is cut, the notice explains why and how to appeal. Eligibility hearings are typically handled through the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts, and the notice lists the deadline for requesting one. Do not wait. File the appeal first, then gather your evidence.

Many community health centers, hospitals and county agencies employ staff who help with applications, often at no charge. If the Denver or Glenwood Springs office is far away, ask one of them first. The Denver County and Garfield County pages can point you to the listing closest to you.

Medicaid in Colorado is administered by the state health and human services agency, providing health coverage for eligible low-income residents through a combination of fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems tailored to the state's population needs.

Medicaid Office locations are available in 2 cities across Colorado. They are spread across 2 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Glenwood Springs, Denver, which have the largest Medicaid caseloads in the state and dedicated eligibility offices to serve high-need urban populations.

Residents of Colorado can apply for Medicaid online through the state's health benefits portal or health exchange, by calling the Medicaid agency's toll-free number, or by visiting a local eligibility office with the required documentation.

Denver Colorado Medicaid Office

View Details Call Now (303) 866-2413

Denver Colorado Medicaid Office

Address
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Hours

Glenwood Springs Colorado Medicaid Office

View Details Call Now (970) 945-9191

Glenwood Springs Colorado Medicaid Office

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Residents of Colorado who currently receive Medicaid should complete their annual renewal on time to avoid a gap in coverage. Most states send renewal notices by mail and email, and online renewal is typically the fastest method to maintain uninterrupted healthcare coverage.

Browse Medicaid Office by county across Colorado to find the nearest location.

Practical Tips for Denver and Garfield County Residents

Residents of Denver and Garfield County face different practical choices, even though both follow the same Health First Colorado rules. In Denver, public transit, a dense network of clinics and a large local human services department mean you can usually choose between applying online, calling and visiting in person. Check the Denver County page to see the listed office at 1575 Sherman Street and decide whether a visit is worth the trip.

In Garfield County, the listed office at 108 8th Street in Glenwood Springs is the natural base for the county seat. Many households, though, live in Rifle, Carbondale, New Castle or Silt, a drive away on Interstate 70 or Highway 82. Combine errands where you can, check road conditions in winter, and use the Garfield County page to confirm the listing details before you leave.

One rule applies everywhere: phone numbers, hours and walk-in policies change. Treat 303-866-2413 for Denver and 970-945-9191 for Glenwood Springs as listing information and call to confirm. Write down the name of the person who helps you and the date of the call. That small record can settle a later dispute about what was submitted and when.

Colorado Medicaid Questions Residents Ask Most

The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, or HCPF, administers Medicaid, which the state calls Health First Colorado. HCPF sets policy, contracts with health plans and regional organizations, pays providers and reports to federal regulators. It does not process most individual applications. County human or social services departments do that work locally, using the shared Colorado Benefits Management System. In Denver the local agency is Denver Human Services, and in Garfield County it is the county's human services department. For a question about a specific case, start with your county. Questions about program rules or covered benefits can go to HCPF.

Our database lists two offices. The Denver Colorado Medicaid Office is at 1575 Sherman Street in Denver, in Denver County, and its listed phone number is 303-866-2413. The Glenwood Springs Colorado Medicaid Office is at 108 8th Street in Glenwood Springs, in Garfield County, with the listed number 970-945-9191. Together they cover one Front Range location and one Western Slope location, but they are not the only places to get help, since all 64 counties have local agencies. Call ahead to confirm hours, appointment rules and which services are handled in person before you make the trip.

Yes. Most people apply online through Colorado PEAK, the state's benefits portal, which also lets you check status, upload documents and report changes. You can also apply by phone through the Health First Colorado customer service line, by mailing a paper application, or in person at a county agency or another assistance site. Online applications are especially practical in mountain and plains counties where the nearest office may be an hour or more away. Whichever method you choose, keep your confirmation number and respond quickly to any request for more information, since delays usually come from missing documents.

Because Colorado expanded Medicaid, adults aged 19 to 64 can generally qualify when household income is at or below about 138 percent of the federal poverty level. The dollar amount depends on household size and is updated each year, so check the current chart on the HCPF website or ask a county worker rather than relying on an old figure. Children and pregnant women can qualify at higher income levels, and CHP+ covers some families who earn too much for Medicaid. Older adults and people with disabilities follow separate rules that may include resource limits, so ask about your specific category when you apply.

Garfield County covers a long stretch of the Colorado River valley, so many residents of Rifle, Parachute, Silt or Carbondale live a good drive from Glenwood Springs. Start with PEAK or a phone call, which can resolve most applications and renewals without travel. Community health centers, hospitals and some nonprofit groups in the region have staff who help people apply, often at no charge. If you do plan to drive, check Colorado road conditions first, since winter weather and occasional closures on Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon can turn a short trip into a long one. Bring copies of your documents so one visit is enough.

Read the notice carefully. It states the reason for the decision, the date coverage ends and the deadline to appeal. If the reason is missing paperwork, you can often send the documents and ask the county to review the case again. If you disagree with the decision itself, request a hearing before the deadline, since eligibility appeals are generally heard through the Office of Administrative Courts. In some situations, filing quickly lets you keep benefits while the appeal is pending. Meanwhile, ask a county worker or a legal aid organization to review your case, and check whether you qualify for CHP+ or a Connect for Health Colorado plan.