What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is free or low-cost public health insurance for Coloradans who qualify. Medicaid can cover your doctor visits, emergency care, preventative care such as screenings and immunizations, and other procedures and treatments.
Medicaid FAQs for Former Foster Care Youth
What benefits are included in Medicaid?
Medicaid offers the following benefits and services:
- Doctor visits
- Behavioral health
- Hospitalization
- Rehabilitative services
- Laboratory services
- Outpatient care
- Prescription drugs
- Emergency care
- Dental care
- Maternity care
- Newborn care
Medicaid also covers preventive and wellness services including:
- Aspirin use
- Blood pressure screening
- Breast cancer screening
- Cholesterol screening
- Depression screening
- Healthy diet counseling
- Sexually transmitted disease prevention counseling
- Tobacco use screening
- Counseling
- Others
For more information go to Colorado.gov/HCPF/Benefits or call the Medicaid Customer Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943 / TDD 1-800-659-2656.
What is the former foster care youth Medicaid extension?
Qualifying former foster care youth from Colorado can get free Medicaid coverage up until the age of 26. Former foster care youth who qualify for the Medicaid extension do not have to pay co-payments for services.
Who qualifies for the former foster care youth Medicaid extension?
Youth in foster care under the state’s or tribes’ responsibility and also enrolled in Medicaid qualify for the Medicaid extension. Former foster care Medicaid extends medical assistance to age 26 for former foster care youth that were in Colorado foster care at ages 18, 19, 20 or 21 and enrolled in Medicaid. You are considered a former foster care youth if you were under the following types of care:
- Certified kinship care
- Non-certified kinship care (when the county has custody)
- Foster home care
- Group home care
- Group center care
- Children’s Habilitation Residential Program (CHRP)
- Residential Child Care Facilities (RCCF) programs
- Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF) programs
- Independent living programs
- Youth committed to the Division of Youth Corrections, living in one of the above, non-secure locations
As a qualifying former foster care youth, do I have access to Early Periodic Screen Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) services as part of the Medicaid extension?
Once you reach the age of 21, you can no longer get EPSDT services are provided and you do not have co-payments. If you are a qualifying former foster care youth age 18 through 20, EPSDT is still available to you.
As a qualifying former foster care youth, do I have to pay co-payments for services?
No, former foster care youth do not have to pay co-payments for Medicaid-covered services. Get more information on Medicaid-cover services here or call the Medicaid Customer Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943/ TDD 1-800-659-2656.
Can I reinstate my Medicaid benefit if I resume residency in Colorado or am released from incarceration?
Yes. Report your new address and status to your county's human services office.
Do I need to do anything to ensure I can get my health services?
It is important to keep your address up to date with your county human services office (see above). We need your up-to-date mailing address to make sure you get your Medicaid card in the mail and other important letters from us. You can also update your address online through Colorado PEAK.
Do I need to provide anything else to my county human services office?
Each year you will be sent a Medicaid recertification letter. The letter will ask you if anything has changed, such as your address or a change in your incarceration status. You will need to let us know if anything has changed. If nothing has changed, you will still get your services.
I am a former foster care youth who qualifies for the Medicaid extension. Can I request a new Medicaid card through Colorado PEAK?
Yes, if you qualify for the Medicaid extension you can create a login for Colorado PEAK and request a new Medicaid card online. You will need the following information to set up an account:
- Your active Medicaid case number. You can get this number by calling the Medicaid Customer Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943/ TDD 1-800-659-2656
- Your Social Security number
- Your date of birth
I am a qualifying former foster care youth and am attending college outside of Colorado. Can I qualify for the Medicaid extension?
If you retain residency in Colorado while you are temporarily out of the state for school, you can qualify for the Medicaid extension. Medicaid will cover services provided by out-of-state providers on a case-by-case basis. You should contact the Medicaid Customer Contact Center at 1-800-221-3943 / TDD 1-800-659-2656 for more information on seeing a provider outside of Colorado.
I think I may qualify for the Medicaid extension for former foster care youth but have not been contacted. What should I do?
You should contact your local county human services office. They can help figure out if you qualify for the Medicaid extension.
I was a foster care youth in another state. Can I qualify for the Medicaid extension?
No, you must have been in foster care in Colorado to qualify.
I was in foster care but emancipated out before my 18th birthday or was permanently adopted (left foster care). Can I qualify for the Medicaid extension?
No, you must have been in foster care at ages 18, 19, 20 or 21 and enrolled in Medicaid to qualify. If you left foster care before your 18th birthday, you do not qualify for the Medicaid extension.
You may still be able to qualify for regular Medicaid. Find out how to apply for Medicaid at Colorado PEAK.
I was in youth corrections until I was 18 years old. Can I qualify for the Medicaid extension?
Yes, if you were in youth corrections on or after your 18th birthday and were receiving Medicaid at the time, you may qualify for the Medicaid extension.
When will I receive my Medicaid card?
Medicaid cards will be sent to the last known address we have on file for you. Make sure you update your address with your county human services office every time you move. You can also update your address online through Colorado PEAK.