In 2025, a single adult in Colorado can qualify for Medicaid (Health First Colorado) if they earn $20,820 or less per year (approximately $1,735 per month).
This limit increases with family size, and children or pregnant women may qualify at higher income levels through both Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+).
Key Takeaways:
- Adults (19–65): Qualify for Medicaid up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For a single adult, this is approximately $20,820 per year or $1,735 per month.
- Children (0–18): Qualify for Medicaid up to 142% FPL, and through CHP+ at even higher levels (up to 260% FPL).
- Pregnant Women: Qualify for Medicaid up to 195% FPL, with CHP+ coverage available beyond that threshold.
Enrollment in Colorado Medicaid fell from 1.8 million in 2023 to about 1.2 million in late 2024 as states resumed regular eligibility checks.
To determine eligibility based on household size and income, the Colorado Medicaid eligibility calculator provides an easy way to estimate your coverage options.
Colorado Medicaid Income Limits 2025 by Household Size
Monthly Income Limits (Effective April 1, 2025)
How to read this table:
- Adults ages 19-65 qualify up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level
- Children under 18 qualify up to 142% FPL through Health First Colorado
- Pregnant women qualify up to 195% FPL through Health First Colorado
- Higher income levels may qualify for CHP+ (up to 260% FPL for children and pregnant women)
Example: A family of four earning $42,500 per year could qualify for Health First Colorado if they are adults. Their children would also qualify, and if the family’s income is too high for Medicaid, children may still qualify through CHP+ at income levels up to $83,720 annually.
2025 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Chart
The Federal Poverty Level is the foundation for all income calculations. Here are the 2025 FPL amounts with commonly used percentages for Colorado Medicaid programs:
| Household Size | 100% FPL | 138% FPL | 142% FPL | 195% FPL | 260% FPL | 300% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,650 | $21,597 | $22,223 | $30,518 | $40,690 | $46,950 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $29,187 | $30,033 | $41,242 | $54,990 | $63,450 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $36,777 | $37,843 | $51,968 | $69,290 | $79,950 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $44,367 | $45,653 | $62,692 | $83,590 | $96,450 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $51,957 | $53,463 | $73,418 | $97,890 | $112,950 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $59,547 | $61,273 | $84,142 | $112,190 | $129,450 |
| 7 | $48,650 | $67,137 | $69,083 | $94,868 | $126,490 | $145,950 |
| 8 | $54,150 | $74,727 | $76,893 | $105,592 | $140,790 | $162,450 |
| 9 | $59,650 | $82,317 | $84,703 | $116,318 | $155,090 | $178,950 |
| 10 | $65,150 | $89,907 | $92,513 | $127,042 | $169,390 | $195,450 |
For households larger than 10: Add $5,500 for each additional person to the 100% FPL amount.
- Adults without children: Eligible up to 133% FPL ($20,820/year for a single person)
- Parents/caretakers: Also covered under the adult income limits
- Children (under 18): Covered up to 142% FPL through Medicaid, or up to 260% FPL through CHP+
- Pregnant women: Covered up to 195% FPL through Medicaid, or higher through CHP+
- Seniors and people with disabilities: May qualify under income limits or through long-term care waivers that also consider assets
This tiered approach makes Colorado’s Medicaid more inclusive than non-expansion states, and it reflects the national trend of giving children and pregnant women broader protection than adults.
Parents & Caretaker Relatives (68% FPL)
Parents and caretaker relatives with dependent children qualify at the lowest income threshold:
- Family of 1: $887/month ($10,644/year)
- Family of 2: $1,199/month ($14,388/year)
- Family of 3: $1,511/month ($18,132/year)
- Family of 4: $1,822/month ($21,864/year)
- Family of 5: $2,134/month ($25,608/year)
- Family of 6: $2,446/month ($29,352/year)
Adults Ages 19-65 (133% FPL / 138% with income disregards)
Colorado expanded Medicaid to cover childless adults through the Affordable Care Act. The stated limit is 133% FPL, but with the 5% income disregard, it effectively becomes 138% FPL:
- Family of 1: $1,735/month ($20,820/year)
- Family of 2: $2,345/month ($28,140/year)
- Family of 3: $2,954/month ($35,448/year)
- Family of 4: $3,564/month ($42,768/year)
- Family of 5: $4,173/month ($50,076/year)
- Family of 6: $4,783/month ($57,396/year)
Children Ages 0-18 (142% FPL)
Children have higher income limits than adults:
- Family of 1: $1,852/month ($22,224/year)
- Family of 2: $2,503/month ($30,036/year)
- Family of 3: $3,154/month ($37,848/year)
- Family of 4: $3,805/month ($45,660/year)
- Family of 5: $4,456/month ($53,472/year)
- Family of 6: $5,107/month ($61,284/year)
Pregnant Women (195% FPL)
Pregnant individuals qualify at significantly higher income levels. The unborn baby counts as a household member:
- Family of 1: $2,544/month ($30,528/year)
- Family of 2: $3,437/month ($41,244/year)
- Family of 3: $4,331/month ($51,972/year)
- Family of 4: $5,225/month ($62,700/year)
- Family of 5: $6,119/month ($73,428/year)
- Family of 6: $7,012/month ($84,144/year)
Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) – 260% FPL
CHP+ provides coverage for children under 18 and pregnant individuals who don’t qualify for Health First Colorado but still need affordable coverage:
- Family of 1: $3,391/month ($40,692/year)
- Family of 2: $4,583/month ($54,996/year)
- Family of 3: $5,775/month ($69,300/year)
- Family of 4: $6,966/month ($83,592/year)
- Family of 5: $8,158/month ($97,896/year)
- Family of 6: $9,350/month ($112,200/year)
Understanding Health First Colorado & Recent Trends
Health First Colorado is the state’s Medicaid program, offering low-cost or free healthcare to eligible residents.
It covers doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital stays, preventive screenings, mental health treatment, and long-term care.
The elderly and people with disabilities may also receive extended services.
Colorado chose to expand Medicaid in 2014, which gave adults without dependent children access to coverage up to 133% FPL. Since then, Medicaid has played a central role in lowering the state’s uninsured rate, especially for working families.
Recent trends show big shifts. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states paused disenrollments, and Colorado’s Medicaid rolls grew to more than 1.8 million people by early 2023.
When continuous coverage protections ended, the state resumed renewals, and enrollment dropped to about 1.2 million people by late 2024. That still means about 21% of Colorado’s population is covered.
In some rural areas, like Costilla County, Medicaid covers more than half the residents. These numbers demonstrate the significant connection between Health First Colorado and the state’s healthcare system.
Expansion and Colorado’s Coverage Gains
Colorado expanded Medicaid in 2014, and it has been a key driver in lowering the state’s uninsured rate. The expansion gave coverage to adults who had previously been excluded, including many working Coloradans in industries like service, construction, and agriculture.
Medicaid expansion in Colorado has also supported rural healthcare. In counties where private insurance access is limited, Health First Colorado provides critical coverage that helps keep hospitals and clinics open. Combined with CHP+, Colorado has built a system that covers children, pregnant women, and adults more broadly than many states.
Nationally, Medicaid enrollment peaked in 2023 during continuous coverage protections, and Colorado followed the same trend. The current declines reflect states re-verifying eligibility, but even with lower numbers, Medicaid remains one of Colorado’s largest healthcare programs.
How to Apply for Medicaid in Colorado
If you want to apply for Health First Colorado or CHP+ in 2025, follow these steps:
- Go to the Colorado PEAK website (Program Eligibility and Application Kit) at co.gov/PEAK or visit Medicaid.gov
- Use the online screening tool to see if your household qualifies
- Prepare documents:
- Proof of income (pay stubs or tax returns)
- Social Security numbers and IDs
- Proof of Colorado residency (lease, utility bill, or ID)
- Proof of pregnancy or disability if applicable
- Submit your application online, by mail, or in person at your county Department of Human Services office
- Report changes in income or household size right away, since they may affect eligibility
You can also use the free Health First Colorado mobile app (available on iOS and Android) to check your coverage status, complete renewals, upload documents, and view your member ID card.
Alternatives If You Don’t Qualify in Colorado
If your household income is too high for Medicaid, you still have options:
- CHP+ (Child Health Plan Plus): Covers children and pregnant women at income levels from 143% to 260% FPL, significantly higher than Medicaid allows
- ACA Marketplace (Connect for Health Colorado): Subsidies lower the cost of private insurance for those earning up to 400% FPL. Some families pay under $50/month for coverage. In 2025, over 282,000 Coloradans enrolled through the marketplace, with 75% receiving financial assistance
- Colorado Option Plans: Standardized lower-cost plans available through Connect for Health Colorado, accounting for nearly 50% of all marketplace enrollments in 2025
- Community Health Centers: Provide sliding-scale services including preventive care, dental, and behavioral health
FAQs: Colorado Medicaid 2025
Q1: What is the maximum income for a single adult to qualify in Colorado in 2025?
$20,820 per year ($1,735 per month) for adults ages 19-65.
Q2: Does Colorado cover adults without children?
Yes, adults qualify up to 133% FPL under Medicaid expansion, which equals $20,820 annually for a single person.
Q3: What about pregnant women in Colorado?
Pregnant women may qualify up to 195% FPL through Health First Colorado (Medicaid), which is $30,528 annually for a household of one. Higher income pregnant women may qualify through CHP+.
Q4: What is CHP+?
It’s Colorado’s CHIP program (Child Health Plan Plus), covering children under age 18 and pregnant women whose family incomes are between 143% and 260% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is too high for Medicaid but still need affordable coverage.
Q5: How often do Medicaid limits change?
Every year. The federal poverty guidelines are updated annually, typically in January or February, and Colorado adjusts its income limits accordingly.
Q6: Where can I apply for Colorado Medicaid?
Through the Colorado PEAK website at co.gov/PEAK, Medicaid.gov, the Health First Colorado mobile app, by phone at 1-800-221-3943, or at your local Department of Human Services office.
Q7: What’s the difference between 133% and 138% FPL?
Colorado officially uses 133% of the Federal Poverty Level for adult Medicaid eligibility. However, due to a 5% income disregard when calculating Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), 133% effectively becomes 138% FPL. Both numbers refer to the same eligibility threshold.
Conclusion
Colorado Medicaid, known as Health First Colorado, continues to be a lifeline for low-income residents. In 2025, adults qualify up to 133% of the federal poverty line ($20,820/year for a single person), while children qualify up to 142% FPL through Medicaid and up to 260% FPL through CHP+. Pregnant women qualify up to 195% FPL through Medicaid, with CHP+ available for higher incomes.
Enrollment trends show big shifts: Colorado peaked at 1.8 million members in 2023 but now covers about 1.2 million residents after eligibility reviews. Even so, nearly one in five Coloradans relies on Medicaid or CHP+ for health coverage.
If you think you may qualify, apply through the Colorado PEAK website at co.gov/PEAK, download the mobile app, or contact your local DHS office. Even if you don’t meet Medicaid’s rules, programs like CHP+ and ACA marketplace subsidies through Connect for Health Colorado can make health care affordable.
