Starting Jan. 1, 2027, some adult Medicaid participants in Colorado will have to show that they work, study or volunteer, or that they qualify for an exemption. According to state officials, about 175,000 people will be affected.
Health First Colorado, the state’s version of Medicaid, currently covers about 1.2 million residents. State official Flores-Brennan said the new requirements apply to people who qualify for the program because of lower incomes under the expansion provided for in the Affordable Care Act. People who fail to document that they meet the requirements or qualify for an exemption will lose their coverage.
The requirement will apply to adults ages 19 to 64. To meet it, they must work, volunteer or study for a combined total of at least 80 hours a month. Earning at least $580 a month is also sufficient. These forms of activity can be combined.
Exemptions include people in prison, pregnant women, young adults who were in foster care, people undergoing treatment for addiction, disabled veterans, caregivers, and people considered “medically frail.” According to the Health First Colorado website, people who receive SSI or SSDI benefits, or who are covered by Medicare or long-term care, also do not have to meet the requirements.
In the first year, the state will rely mainly on participants’ self-attestation and on data it already has. Full verification is set to begin in 2028. The department mailed letters with information to participants in September, and a second round is scheduled to reach them in late October.
Participants can check whether the requirements apply to them using the online Work Requirements Screener on the Health First Colorado website. The frequency of coverage renewals will also change: instead of once a year, participants will have to renew every six months.
Source: Denver Post
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