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How to Get Home Care Through Medicaid in Colorado

A plain-language, step-by-step guide for families: who may qualify, where to apply, and what happens after you call your county’s case management agency.

Oct 5, 2026 · 4 min read · By the AVA HomeCare team

Adult daughter and her father going through paperwork together at the kitchen table, with a laptop open

Key points

In Colorado, Medicaid is called Health First Colorado.
Home care through Medicaid has two checks: income and assets, and how much help with daily life a person needs.
Your county’s Case Management Agency (CMA) does the assessment and the care plan.
Once hours are approved, you choose a licensed home care agency.

When a parent starts needing help with bathing, dressing or meals, one of the first questions families ask is: “How will we pay for this?” For many Colorado families, part of the answer is Medicaid. The process can feel confusing at first, so we’ve put the main steps in one place.

This is general information, not legal or benefits advice. Programs and limits change, so please confirm details with the official sources listed at the end.

A few words you’ll hear

Health First Colorado is Colorado’s Medicaid program, run by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).
Long-term services and supports (LTSS) are programs that help older adults and people with disabilities with everyday activities, including help at home.
Community First Choice (CFC) became active on July 1, 2025. It covers in-home services such as personal care (help with bathing, dressing and grooming), homemaker services (light housekeeping and laundry) and medication reminders.
A Case Management Agency (CMA) handles intake, eligibility, the assessment and the service plan for long-term services in your area.

Medicare and Medicaid are different programs. Medicare usually does not pay for ongoing non-medical home care.

Step 1: See whether your loved one may qualify

Home care through Health First Colorado generally depends on two things:

Income and assets. Long-term care programs look at the applicant’s own income and resources. For 2026, the state lists a gross monthly income limit of $2,982 for one person (300% of the SSI benefit) and a resource limit of $2,000. Some people with higher income can still qualify by setting up an income trust. These numbers change every January, and there are special rules for married couples, so ask before you rule anything out.
Daily needs (“level of care”). The person must need enough help with daily activities that, without services at home, they would need the kind of care given in a nursing facility or similar setting. A case manager decides this using the state’s assessment.

Step 2: Apply for Health First Colorado

If your loved one doesn’t have Health First Colorado yet, there are four ways to apply:

Online at Colorado PEAK. The state calls this the fastest way.
By phone at 1-800-221-3943 (State Relay 711), Monday–Friday, 8 am–4 pm.
By mail, with a paper application from HCPF.
In person at your county human services office or a local application assistance site.

Tip: Gather proof of identity, income (such as Social Security or a pension) and bank accounts before you start. Say that you’re applying for long-term care services at home.

Step 3: Contact your Case Management Agency

Since July 2024, each area of Colorado has one CMA that serves everyone, whatever their age or disability. In the counties AVA serves, HCPF’s directory lists:

Adams and Denver: Rocky Mountain Human Services
Arapahoe and Douglas: Developmental Pathways
Boulder, Broomfield and Gilpin: A&I Avenues
Clear Creek and Jefferson: Jefferson County Department of Human Services
Grand: Rocky Mountain Health Plans
Weld: Weld County Case Management Agency

Find current phone numbers in the HCPF CMA directory. You can call the CMA yourself and ask for an intake.

Step 4: The assessment and the support plan

A case manager will meet with your loved one and ask about daily life: bathing, dressing, eating, moving around the home, memory and safety. A few things help:

Have a family member there, if your loved one agrees.
Describe the hard days, not just the good ones.
Bring a short list of the help needed and how often.

If your loved one is eligible, the case manager works with you on a support plan that lists the services and hours approved.

Step 5: Choose a home care agency

You get to choose your provider. When personal care comes through an agency, the agency must hold a Class A or Class B home care license. Questions worth asking:

Do you accept Health First Colorado for personal care and homemaker services?
Do you serve our county?
How do you choose, train and supervise caregivers?
How will you keep our family updated?

Care can start once the agency has the approval for the hours in the plan.

How long does it take?

It depends. The application, the assessment and the approval each take time, and missing papers are a common cause of delay. Many families find the whole process takes several weeks. If your loved one is in the hospital or a rehab center, ask the discharge planner or social worker to help you start early.

Where AVA fits in

AVA HomeCare is a licensed Class B non-medical home care agency and a Health First Colorado provider for personal care and homemaker services under Community First Choice. We also work with families who pay privately or use long-term care insurance. Only the county and the CMA can decide eligibility, but we’re glad to explain the steps and what to expect.

Not sure where to start? Call us at 720.937.1500 or send us a message. We’ll listen, answer your questions and point you to the right office, with no pressure.

Call 720.937.1500 Text us Send us a message

Official sources

Facts last checked October 4, 2026. This article is general information, not legal, medical or benefits advice.

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