Do You Need Health Insurance?
CHP+ and Medicaid may be for you. Medicaid and CHP+ (the Child Health Plan Plus) are public health insurance programs for low-income families, children, and pregnant women. Like private health insurance, both programs provide coverage for medical and dental care at participating providers.

What are Medicaid and CHP+?
Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to low-income families. Generally, Medicaid provides coverage for the following people:

• Children ages 0-18 in families that earn up to 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) - up to $2,611/month for a family of four.

• Pregnant women in families that earn up to 185% FPL - up to $3,631 for a family of four.

• Parents of Medicaid eligible children in families that earn up to 100% FPL - up to $1,963/month for a family of four. As of May 1, 2010, the income limit for parents with dependent children on Medicaid increased from 60% to 100% FPL.

Please note that there are some kinds of income that will not be counted toward and some kinds of expenses that may be deducted from your monthly income. Your family may qualify for Medicaid even if your monthly income is greater than the amounts listed above.

CHP+ provides health insurance coverage to children and pregnant women in low-income families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. As of May 1, 2010, the income limit for CHP+ increased from 205% to 250% FPL. Generally, CHP+ provides coverage for the following people:

• Children ages 0-18 who are ineligible for Medicaid and in families that earn up to 250% FPL – up to $4,907/month for a family of four.

• Pregnant women 19 years old and over in families that earn from 185-250% FPL – up to $4,907/month for a family of four.

Please note that there are some kinds of income that will not be counted toward and some kinds of expenses that may be deducted from your monthly income. Your family may qualify for CHP+ even if your monthly income is greater than the amounts listed above.

For more information please click here to go to the CHP+ website.

Is my family eligible for Medicaid or CHP+? You can find out if you or your children may be eligible for Medicaid or CHP+ by going to the Colorado PEAK website.  Go to www.colorado.gov/peak and click on the “Am I eligible?” link.  This tool will tell you if you or your children might be able to get benefits.  You will still need to fill out and submit a paper application to receive Medicaid or CHP+. 

How do I apply for Medicaid and CHP+? You can go to a local organization that can help you fill out the application and submit your documents. Eligible children and pregnant women can receive a card that gives you temporary medical coverage while your application is being processed if you submit your application at a "presumptive eligibility" site. Click here to find the local organization nearest you.

Where else can I get an application for Medicaid or CHP+?

• You can call your local Department of Human Services (DHS). They can give you an application, help you to fill it out and answer questions about Medicaid or CHP+. Click here to find a DHS near you.

• You can call CHP+ Customer Service, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm at 800.359.1991 to get an application in the mail. For directions or more contact information, click here to Contact CHP+.

• You can download an application by clicking here for English and here for Spanish. You must have Adobe Acrobat to view and print the application. Click here if you need to download Adobe Acrobat.
  
  
• You can pick up an application at the CHP+ office (4500 Cherry Creek South Dr, Denver, CO 80246).

Problems Getting Your Medicaid or CHP+ Benefits?
If you applied for Medicaid or CHP+ and have not heard about your benefits, here are some things you can do to help your application:

• Make sure that your application is complete. Talk to your eligibility technician (the person who is processing your application at the county, Denver Health, or CHP+) to make sure that you filled out your application right and sent in the necessary documentation.
• Wait 45 days. Counties, Denver Health, and CHP+ have 45 days to process a complete application. If you haven't heard about your application within 45 days:
• Call your eligibility technician to check on the status of your application. If your eligibility technician can't help you or does not return your calls,
• Call the Customer Service Information Line (Se Habla Espanol): 1-800-221-3943 or 303-866-3513 (Denver metro).
• Call your elected officials. It is very important that you tell your elected officials what is happening to you. This includes State Senators, State Representatives, County Commissioners, and the Governor.
• Find your County Commissioners in the blue pages of the phonebook.
• Find your State Senators and Representatives online by visiting Vote Smart.
• Contact Governor John Hickenlooper at 303-866-2471, 136 State Capitol, Denver, CO 80203-1792, or governor.hickenlooper@state.co.us.