12-Month Health First Colorado / CHP+ Postpartum Coverage
Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)
Will Colorado Medicaid or CHP+ keep covering me for a full year after my pregnancy ends?
What this is
Qualifying Health First Colorado and CHP+ members get 12 months of coverage after a pregnancy ends, once the pregnancy is reported. The extension took effect July 1, 2022.
Why it matters after birth
You have a full year of coverage for your own health, not just your baby's. Reporting the pregnancy is what triggers it, which is the step people miss.
You may qualify if
Colorado's 2026 screening page gives approximate monthly pregnancy income amounts of $2,594 for a family of 1, $3,517 for 2, $4,440 for 3, and $5,363 for 4. The state also says people may qualify at higher incomes depending on their circumstances, so apply rather than ruling yourself out.
What you actually get
Core Health First Colorado benefits include primary and specialty care, hospital care, dental, prescriptions, behavioral health, maternity care, doula support, lactation support, and other covered services.
How long it lasts
Your overall coverage runs for 12 months after the pregnancy ends, even though certain pregnancy-specific provider-visit benefits have their own shorter 60-day postpartum window. Your renewal month shifts to 12 months after the pregnancy ends.
What it costs
Pregnant and postpartum members have no copays for maternity benefits such as doula and lactation support. CHP+ and other categories can differ, so confirm for the coverage you have.
How to use it
Report your pregnancy through PEAK, the mobile app, or your county office — or for CHP+, call 800-359-1991. To apply for coverage, use PEAK or call 1-800-221-3943.
What you'll need
What the application asks for, including household income and pregnancy information.
Important limitations
Your 12 months depends on the pregnancy being reported, so do that promptly. Some pregnancy-specific provider-visit benefits end at 60 days postpartum even though your coverage continues to 12 months — do not read one as the other. CHP+ rules differ from Health First Colorado in places, including copays and transportation.
How it works with other benefits
Your coverage is what your doula benefit, behavioral-health care, Prenatal Plus, and Special Connections all run through. It has nothing to do with FAMLI paid leave, which is a separate employment benefit.
Finding a provider or service
Use Find a Doctor and your regional organization, which coordinates physical and behavioral health care and can help you find providers and social supports.
Language & cultural access
The 24/7 Nurse Advice Line, 800-283-3221, operates in English and Spanish. Ask your regional organization about interpretation when booking care.
If you do not qualify
Colorado publishes guidance on what happens if you no longer qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+; ask about CHP+, marketplace coverage, and, if immigration status is the barrier, about Cover All Coloradans.
Access in practice
Being covered and being able to use it are different things. This is what the sources say about actually reaching this support.
- Provider availability
- Coverage is distinct from provider capacity, which varies by region.
- Provider rules
- Care is coordinated through your regional organization, which maintains provider networks.
In plain terms
What this means for you
Report your pregnancy and your coverage continues for a full year after it ends, with no copay for maternity benefits like doula and lactation support. Watch one detail: a few pregnancy-specific visit benefits stop at 60 days even though your coverage itself runs the whole year.
Your next step
What to do next
Report your pregnancy now through PEAK, the app, or your county office — or call 800-359-1991 for CHP+. Then note that your renewal month moves to 12 months after your pregnancy ends, and respond to that renewal when it arrives.
Official sources
Last verified September 16, 2026 · Ready
7 official sources
- CO-M1 — Health First Colorado — Expanded maternity and family planning benefits
- CO-M2 — HCPF PM 23-005 — Postpartum medical assistance expansion to 12 months (PDF)
- CO-M3 — Health First Colorado — Do you qualify?
- CO-M4 — Health First Colorado — Apply now
- CO-M5 — Health First Colorado — Benefits and services
- CO-M6 — Health First Colorado — If I'm pregnant, does that change my renewal month?
- CO-M7 — Health First Colorado — What happens if I no longer qualify for Health First Colorado or CHP+ coverage?
Authority: Health First Colorado and CHP+ 12-month postpartum medical assistance expansion
Recheck when: The monthly pregnancy income amounts shown are approximate 2026 screening figures and are updated periodically.
This is plain-language public-policy information, not legal, medical, or benefits advice, and it is not specific to your situation. Policy changes, so confirm current rules with the agency or your health plan.