Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Colorado program

Health coverage for an adult in the family

Health First Colorado can cover an adult in the family, including a caregiver who is not the child’s parent.

What it is

Health First Colorado can cover an adult in the family, including a caregiver who is not the child’s parent.

Your child's Medicaid does not insure you. Adult coverage has a lower line judged on this month's income, and is one extra box on the same application.

Eligibility rules
  • The ordinary expansion category covers eligible adults ages 19 through 64, including nonparent caregivers. Pregnancy, disability and older-age categories have separate rules.
  • From April 1, 2026, monthly base amounts are $1,769 for one person, $2,399 for two, $3,028 for three, $3,658 for four, $4,288 for five and $4,917 for six.
  • The base standard is 133% of poverty, with the applicable five-percentage-point disregard extending the comparison to 138%. The county decides each adult's household and which income counts. Colorado residency is required.
What you get
  • Free health coverage for your own hospital care, clinic visits and prescriptions.
What the coverage includes
  • This card concerns the parent's own medical care, rather than additional coverage for the child.
  • Mental-health care is included in the adult benefit. There is no premium.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask your social worker about coverage for each adult who needs it and the option to include adults in the PEAK application.
  2. Have current pay records ready and explain any recent reduction in work.

PEAK or Health First Colorado: 800-221-3943 · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • The county reviews current income through the same PEAK application used for children.
Good to know

Your child being approved does not cover you. Add yourself on the same application and the county checks your income on the lower adult line.

Other details
  • In 2026, retroactive coverage can reach three eligible months before the application month. From January 1, 2027, the expansion-adult look-back is generally one month; specified child and disability categories use two months.
  • From January 1, 2027, some adults face work-reporting rules. Exemptions include responsibility for a child age 13 or younger or care of a person with a disability of any age. The state confirms the exemption and required documents.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could a parent qualify for coverage on our current income, and how would it compare with our other options? If it makes sense, could you help include us in the application?”

Why I’m asking: I need to keep up with my own health care while supporting my child.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Add the adults to the same application and report this month's income.

Your social worker

The hospital financial counselor files it with you.

The care team

Nothing.

Who decides
The county human-services office.
Ask your social worker
“Can you add the parents to the same application, using this month's income?”

How to apply

First step: Add the adults to the same PEAK application at co.gov/peak.

  1. Put every adult in the household on the same application.
  2. If pay has just dropped, report this month's income, not last year's.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: The same PEAK application at co.gov/peak, or 800-221-3943.

What to gather

  • This month's pay for each adult

How long: The same application as the child.

What a yes looks like

A notice covering the adult with a start date.

What a no looks like, and the next move

If income is the reason and a parent is about to stop work, reapply the month the pay drops.

Watch out

  • Adults and children use different lines. Do not assume the child's answer is the parent's.
  • Report this month's income, not last year's.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

A parent's own free coverage at or under $2,399 a month for two people, $3,028 for three, $3,658 for four and $4,288 for five.

  • $2,399/month — Published adult line, household of 2
  • $3,028/month — Published adult line, household of 3
  • $3,658/month — Published adult line, household of 4
  • $4,288/month — Published adult line, household of 5

Covers: Hospital, clinic, prescriptions and mental-health care for the parent

What it costs the family: No premium.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
Adult expansion generally covers ages 19–64. The April 1, 2026 133% FPL base amounts require the applicable five-percentage-point disregard and the adult household calculation; nonparent caregivers are not excluded solely by relationship.
Residency
Colorado

The trap: Adults and children use different lines, so a child can be covered while a parent is not. The same application asks about everyone; do not leave the parent off it.

Where I read this

← Back to your options