Health First Colorado and Regional Health Plans to Send Text Messages About Medicaid and CHP+ Renewals

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Text messages to be sent to Health First Colorado & CHP+ members reminding them to take action on health coverage renewals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 18, 2023 

Media Contact
Marc Williams
Department of Health Care Policy & Financing
720-626-0801 (Cell) 

Denver, CO - Beginning Monday morning, March 20, several thousand Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Child Health Plan Plus members will receive text messages from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF). These text messages will be reminders to those members who need to complete renewal paperwork to see if they still qualify for health coverage. The media’s assistance in reporting on these text messages is requested so members don’t mistake them for spam or phishing texts.

These text messages coincide with the resumption of HCPF’s regular renewal processes which were paused the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members could lose their health coverage if they don’t respond to their renewal letter from HCPF. Renewal letters are labeled URGENT - PLEASE REPLY on the envelope. Members should check their mail, email, and PEAK mailbox at CO.gov/PEAK and fill out, sign, and return their renewal information right away. It’s important to note that not all 1.7 million members’ eligibility for benefits will be reviewed at the same time, but rather based on the member’s enrollment anniversary month over the coming year.  Members can find out when their renewal is due online via the PEAK website, the Health First Colorado mobile app or by calling their county human services office. For more information and videos in English and Spanish about the renewal process, please visit HealthFirstColorado.com/renewals.

About the Text Messaging Campaign

For members whose renewal is due in May, HCPF and its health plan partners will be sending text messages over the next several days to Health First Colorado or CHP+ members who are not automatically renewed and need to take action on their renewal to see if they still qualify for health coverage.

The following messages will be sent in English and Spanish at the beginning of a member’s renewal period.

HCPF text messages will originate from 6659 and read:

  1. Message: Health First Colorado: Complete your Medicaid or CHP+ renewal. Go to CO.gov/PEAK  or the Health First CO app. More info at: hfcgo.com/4. Reply STOP to opt out. 

Text messages from health plan partners will be sent in April for members whose renewals are due in May and may originate from different numbers depending on where a person lives. They will read:

  1. Message: [Health Plan]: Don't wait: Complete your Medicaid or CHP+ renewal now on CO.gov/PEAK or the Health First CO app. Learn more: hfcgo.com/4. Reply STOP to opt out. 
  2. Message: [Health Plan]: Renew your health coverage now! Complete and sign your renewal packet at CO.gov/PEAK. Questions? Learn more: hfcgo.com/4. Reply STOP to opt out.

HCPF and its health plan partners will be sending messages to members when it’s their time to renew over the next year to remind them to take action to avoid a gap in coverage.

Members who have not opted in to receive text messages may do so when updating their contact information at CO.gov/PEAK.

As the COVID-19 public health emergency winds down, options for members who need to transition to other health coverage can be found at KeepCOCovered.com.


About the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing: The Department administers Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), Child Health Plan Plus, and other programs for Coloradans who qualify. These health care programs now cover about one in four Coloradans. For more information about the Department, please visit hcpf.colorado.gov.