Moving to or from Colorado with Medicaid
Moving TO Colorado
Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Colorado resident applies fresh through Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing. There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Colorado's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Colorado
Leaving Colorado ends your Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing ↗ (application page)
Colorado Medicaid at a glance
| Program name | Health First Colorado |
|---|---|
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level |
| Processing | up to 45 days |
Common questions
Who runs Medicaid in Colorado?
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing, which runs the program as Health First Colorado. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Colorado make new residents wait for Medicaid?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for Medicaid. You apply as soon as you live in Colorado; eligibility is decided on Colorado's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Colorado?
Contact Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (official link below) to report the move and close your case effective your move month.
Every move involving Colorado
From Colorado to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To Colorado from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- Health First Colorado — Apply Now — accessed 2026-08-08
- Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing — accessed 2026-08-08