Health First Colorado Medicaid for a Grandchild in Kinship Care

You Don't Need a Court Order to Get the Child Covered

One of the most common misunderstandings grandparents face: you do not need legal guardianship or a custody order to apply for Health First Colorado (Medicaid) for a grandchild living with you. A relative acting as a non-parent caretaker can apply on the child's behalf through the Colorado PEAK portal or the MyCOBenefits app.

Health First Colorado provides comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health coverage for children with zero premiums and no co-payments. If the child's household income falls at or below 142% of the Federal Poverty Level, they qualify.

The Income Calculation That Works in Your Favor

Under Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) rules — the standard Medicaid uses — the question is whether you claim the child as a tax dependent. If you don't, your income is excluded from the child's Medicaid household entirely. The child's eligibility is evaluated against their own income alone, which for most children in kinship care is zero.

This means a grandparent earning well above the poverty line can still get the grandchild enrolled in Health First Colorado, provided they don't claim the child on their tax return. If you do claim the child as a dependent (which may make sense for the Child Tax Credit), your income enters the picture, but the 142% FPL threshold for children is relatively generous.

CHP+ for Higher-Income Households

If the child's household income lands between 143% and 260% FPL — for example, if you claim the child and your income pushes them above the Medicaid line — Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) fills the gap. CHP+ covers children under 19 with modest annual enrollment fees and small co-payments for some services. It's not as comprehensive as Medicaid, but it covers doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, dental, and vision.

Children in Child Welfare Placement Get Automatic Coverage

If the child came into your home through a county child welfare placement — meaning the county has legal custody — the pathway is different. Children with Title IV-E Relative Guardianship Assistance Agreements (RGAP) and active foster care placements are categorically eligible for Health First Colorado regardless of household income. Ask the county department how enrollment is handled for your placement.

12 Months of Continuous Coverage

Once a child is approved for either Health First Colorado or CHP+, coverage remains active for 12 full months regardless of minor income changes during that period. This prevents the coverage gaps that used to happen when a caregiver's hours fluctuated or a small child support payment started.

Coverage can also be backdated up to three months before the month of application if the child met eligibility criteria during those prior months — useful if you delayed applying while getting settled.

How to Apply

Go to peak.my.site.com, create an account (or log in), and check the box for Medical Assistance. List the child as the applicant and yourself as the caretaker. You'll need the child's birth certificate or passport, Social Security numbers, proof of Colorado residency, and income information.

For Medicaid questions after enrollment, contact the Health First Colorado Member Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943 (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).

Health coverage is one of several benefits available to kinship caregivers in Colorado. For the full list — including cash grants, food benefits, and child care assistance — see our Colorado Kinship Financial Help guide.

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