What is the Continuous Enrollment Unwind?
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government declared a public health emergency (PHE). This ensured anyone enrolled in Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program) was guaranteed to keep their health coverage even if they had household or income changes during the PHE. This is known as the “continuous coverage requirement.” This coverage requirement is now ending, which marks the beginning of the Continuous Enrollment Unwind when Colorado will begin disenrolling members who no longer qualify for Health First Colorado benefits.
Important Information
The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) estimates that more than 325,000 current Health First Colorado members will no longer be eligible for Medicaid coverage following their annual eligibility review. These eligibility reviews will be done in the anniversary month of the member's enrollment. For instance, if a member enrolled in July, their eligibility review will take place in July 2023.
Some Health First Colorado members could lose their health coverage if they don’t respond to their renewal letter from HCPF. Renewal letters are labeled URGENT - PLEASE REPLY on the envelope. Members should ensure their contact information is correct to receive their renewal letter from HCPF.
Members should check their mail, email and PEAK mailbox at CO.gov/PEAK to fill out, sign, and return their renewal information right away. It’s important to note that not all 1.7 million members will be reviewed at the same time, but rather month by month based on the member’s enrollment anniversary month over the coming year.
Members can find out when their renewal is due online via the PEAK website, the Health First Colorado mobile app or by calling their county human services office. For more information and videos in English and Spanish about the renewal process, please visit HealthFirstColorado.com/renewals.
Attention Members: Important Benefit Information!
- Keep your contact information updated
- This helps you receive notifications and reminders of when it’s your time to renew, as well as hear about other important updates
- Know your renewal month
- This helps you be aware of reminders and when you may need to take action
Health First Colorado members must respond to communications to keep health coverage active. Those communications will be sent to you via mail, text and/or phone, so it is important that your contact information is up to date.
How Can I Update My Contact Information?
- Visit Colorado.gov/PEAK. If you don’t have a PEAK account, you can create one at Colorado.gov/PEAK.
- Use the Health First Colorado app on your phone. This free app is for Health First Colorado and CHP+ members. Download it for free in the Google Play or Apple App stores.
- Contact your county department of human services.
Need Help Navigating PEAK?
Members can use PEAK to apply for coverage, make changes to their account and check the status of an application on the PEAK website. See the PEAK Guide for detailed help with common tasks.
Members who need help with a technical issue on PEAK, such as password resets, error messages, or problems with navigation, can call, chat or email the PEAK Technical Support Center:
Chat: Available 24/7 by clicking Chat Now on the Peak Contact page.
Email: CBMS.Help@state.co.us
Call: 1-800-250-7741 Monday-Friday, 7:30 am to 5:15 pm
Helpful Resources
- PEAK User Guide
- PEAK Website
- PEAK FAQ
- Video Tutorial in English | Spanish
- Upload a document(PDF)
- Health First Colorado mobile app
- PEAK Training Resources
Health First Colorado eligibility is reviewed at least once each year to determine if you and/or your family members still meet Health First Colorado eligibility requirements. This review is called the renewal process (sometimes called redetermination or RRR).
How Can I Find My Renewal Month?
- Call CCHA
- Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Jefferson counties: 303-256-1717
- El Paso, Park, and Teller counties: 719-598-1540
- Members can find out their renewal month by creating a Colorado.gov/PEAK account
This table shows when you will begin receiving communications about the renewal process, what information you may receive, and when you need to act.
|
Renewal Month |
Renewal Packets or Notice of Approval Sent via mail or PEAK account |
Communications Timeframe Types of Communication: Letter / Text / Phone |
Medicaid Renewal Packet Deadline |
|
May 2023 |
mid-March |
March – April |
May 5, 2023 |
|
June 2023 |
mid-April |
April – May |
June 5, 2023 |
|
July 2023 |
mid-May |
Mary – June |
July 5, 2023 |
|
August 2023 |
mid-June |
June – July |
August 5, 2023 |
|
September 2023 |
mid-July |
July – August |
September 5, 2023 |
|
October 2023 |
mid-August |
August – September |
October 5, 2023 |
|
November 2023 |
mid-September |
September – October |
November 5, 2023 |
|
December 2023 |
mid-October |
October – November |
December 5, 2023 |
|
January 2024 |
mid-November |
November – December |
January 5, 2024 |
|
February 2024 |
mid-December |
December – January |
February 5, 2024 |
|
March 2024 |
mid-January |
January – February |
March 5, 2024 |
|
April 2024 |
mid-February |
February – March |
April 5, 2024 |
Here’s what you can expect:
Step 1: You will receive a benefit notification from Colorado PEAK (if you have an account), and Health First Colorado and CCHA will send you a letter, email and/or text.
Step 2: If you do not take immediate action, Health First Colorado and/or CCHA will contact you again by letter, email, and/or text.
Step 3: About two months before your renewal date, you will receive information about your benefits. It will either be an approval notice or a renewal packet. If you receive a renewal packet, you MUST take action to complete and submit it. If you receive an approval notice, your benefits were automatically approved (no action is needed).
It is important that your current contact information is up to date so you can receive these materials. The renewal packet can be completed in person, online or over the phone.
Some members will be automatically renewed based on the most recent information already on file with the state. Other members will need to go through the renewal process.
If you are auto-renewed
- You will get an approval letter about two months before your renewal deadline saying your health coverage has been renewed.
- No additional information is needed.
- Health coverage will be renewed for twelve months.
If you are not auto-renewed, you need to take action and complete the renewal packet to see if you still qualify for Health First Colorado.
- You will get a renewal packet in the mail and/or online at CO.gov/PEAK about 60-70 days before your renewal deadline.
- You will get notifications about your renewal. Depending on your communication preferences, notification will be sent through the mail, email, text, and/or your online account from Colorado PEAK or the Health First Colorado app.
- You must complete, sign and submit your renewal by the deadline indicated in your renewal packet.
Sample Renewal Packets
- English MAGI(PDF)
- Spanish MAGI(PDF)
- English non-MAGI(PDF)
- Spanish non-MAGI(PDF)
You will continue to have Health First Colorado benefits throughout the renewal process.
Here are some resources for completing the renewal packet:
Helpful Resources
If Health First Colorado determines that you no longer qualify for benefits, you’ll have a limited amount of time to act to get coverage before your *Special Enrollment Period ends. You can quickly see if you are eligible for financial assistance from the government by visiting Connectforhealthco.com.
*Special Enrollment Period: Losing health coverage such as Health First Colorado is considered a qualifying event that would trigger a Special Enrollment Period. You are eligible to enroll within 60 days of that event.
Helpful Resources
CCHA is here to help!
Need additional support updating your address or have questions about how to prepare for the end of the public health emergency? Contact CCHA Member Support Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free CCHA Materials
CCHA provides free materials to support the Update Your Address campaign. There are two versions available – one is CCHA-branded and the other provides space for providers or community partners to add their own branding. Both versions are available at CCHAcares.com/order (search Is Your Contact Information Up to Date?).