Colorado Medicaid work requirement
Colorado HCPF / Health First Colorado
If you are 19 to 64 and get Medicaid in Colorado through the adult expansion group, you may need to show 80 hours a month of work, school, job training, or community service, or enough income. Some people are exempt. Most states by January 2027; some sooner or later; check yours.
- Start date
- January 1, 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
Who it applies to
Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) adults ages 19–64 who are not enrolled in long-term services and supports (LTSS) or buy-in programs, and whose application or renewal is on or after January 1, 2027. At renewal, you must meet the requirement in at least 1 calendar month during the 6 months since your last renewal. New applicants must meet it in the calendar month before applying. Renewals also move to every 6 months.
What counts toward 80 hours
- Work 80+ hours/month (paid or unpaid, including self-employment or work for goods/services)
- Community service / volunteering at a public or non-profit organization — 80+ hours/month
- Participation in an approved job training or workforce program — 80+ hours/month
- Enrollment in an educational program at least half-time (high school, GED, community college, vocational, or four-year college)
- Any combination of the above totaling 80+ hours/month
- Income ≥ $580/month (federal minimum wage × 80 hours) — regardless of hours tracked; seasonal workers may average $580/month over the prior 6 months
Who may be exempt
- Enrolled in LTSS or a Medicaid buy-in program
- Pregnant or less than 12 months postpartum
- Caregiver of a child under 14 or disabled individual
- Disability or serious health condition (medically frail)
- Mental health condition or substance use disorder
- American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) eligible for Indian Health Service
- Former foster care members ages 19–26
- Currently incarcerated or recently released
- Receiving inpatient hospital care
- Already meeting SNAP or TANF work requirements
Caring for a child 13 or younger, or for a person with a disability, is usually an exemption. Caregiving hours are not counted toward the 80 hours.
How Colorado checks
HCPF will ask you to complete renewal paperwork via PEAK (CO.gov/PEAK) with questions about your activities or exemption status. If HCPF needs proof, it will send a letter. Respond by the deadline in that letter.
What you can do now
- Visit healthfirstcolorado.com/changes-are-coming-to-health-first-colorado-colorados-medicaid-program/work-requirements/ for the official member page
- Sign in to PEAK at CO.gov/PEAK to check your renewal date and update your contact information
- Start tracking work, volunteer, education, or training hours each month now
- Watch for renewal paperwork from HCPF with questions about activities and exemptions
- Report life changes (pregnancy, disability, household changes) to HCPF promptly
Sources and links for Colorado
- Work Requirements — Health First Colorado
- HCPF H.R. 1 FAQ (hcpf.colorado.gov)
- PEAK — Colorado Benefits Portal
Sources: Colorado HCPF (hcpf.colorado.gov/work-requirements-faqs); Health First Colorado member page. CMS IFC CMS-2454-IFC.
Last checked September 2026.
Log80 helps you keep organized proof.
Log your hours and make a monthly report you can share with your state Medicaid office. Free.
Log80 is not a government service and is not Medicaid. This page is not legal advice. Your state Medicaid office decides who must meet the rule and what proof it accepts.