The Health First Colorado Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities lets adults with a disability who qualify to "buy-into" Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program). If you work and earn too much to qualify for Health First Colorado you may qualify. If you qualify, you pay a monthly premium. Your monthly premium is based on your gross monthly earned and unearned income after any applicable disregards.
Who qualifies?
- You must be 16 or older,
- You must be employed,
- You must have a qualifying disability, either through Social Security or the State Disability Determination vendor, even if you are 65 or older. The Social Security Administration (SSA) listings describe what disabilities qualify, and
- Your income after disregards must be below 450% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For example, you can earn about $11,020 a month and qualify. You may have additional income that is disregarded.
- Applicants should always complete the Health First Colorado Application to find out if their income qualifies.
You are not required to apply for SSA disability. If you do not have a current disability determination from the Social Security Administration, fill out the Health First Colorado Disability Application and on the How To Apply page. We will determine if you qualify using the Social Security Administration (SSA) listings, without regard to your substantial gainful activity or your ability to work.
Benefits and Services
You will get regular Health First Colorado benefits. You may also qualify for extra long-term services and supports. These additional services are accessed through the following Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers:
- Brain Injury Waiver
- Community Mental Health Supports Waiver
- Complementary and Integrative Health Waiver
- Developmental Disabilities Waiver
- Elderly, Blind and Disabled Waiver
- Supported Living Services Waiver
Please note that Children's Home and Community-Based Services (CHCBS) Waiver is not available with the Buy-In Program for Working Adults with Disabilities.
What Does It Cost?
You have to pay monthly premiums based on your income to be in the program. The more you make, the more you pay.
Effective Date: April 1, 2024 based on 2024 FPL
| Federal Poverty Level (FPL) | Monthly Income for an Individual | You Pay Each Month |
|---|---|---|
| 0-40% | $0- $502* | $0 |
| 41-133% | $503 - $1,670* | $25 |
| 134-200% | $1,671 - $2,510* | $90 |
| 201-300% | $2,511 - $3,765* | $130 |
| 301-450% | $3,766 - $5,648* | $200 |
*Some people earning more may still qualify.
How to Apply
- Complete Medical application online at Colorado.gov/PEAK
- If you apply through PEAK and you do not have a current disability determination from the Social Security Administration, you must fill out the Health First Colorado Disability Application on the How To Apply page and submit it to your eligibility determination site.
- In-person
- By phone at 1-800-221-3943 / State Relay: 711
- By mail
For more information on how to apply, see our How to Apply page.
How to Opt-Out:
- Members can access their Online PEAK account at CO.gov/PEAK to opt-out.
- From the dashboard, scroll down to Benefit Overview
- To disenroll from the Buy-in program, choose End Benefits
- Select Disenroll from the Health First Colorado Medicaid Buy-In for Working Adults with Disabilities
- Members can call the Buy-In Eligibility vendor at 1-800-711-6994 and ask to opt-out.
For more details about this program, see our Health First Colorado Buy-In Program page.
If you have more questions about this program call the direct line to Buy-In Experts: Toll Free 1-800-711-6994 or contact the Member Contact Center.
Helpful Links
Colorado Disability Benefits 101 (CO DB101) is an online tool available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Coloradans with disabilities to address the fear of losing benefits by allowing career seekers to get answers to questions they might have, like “What happens to my benefits when I work?”
CO DB101 supports individuals with disabilities in exploring career options and increasing financial independence.