Continuous Health Coverage for Kids: A Victory in Colorado!
This week, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approved multi-year continuous Medicaid coverage for children in Colorado and four other states, marking a significant milestone in Colorado’s vision toward quality health coverage for all children.
In 2023, the Colorado Children’s Campaign led the passage of HB23-1300, which required Colorado to seek federal authorization for continuous eligibility for children ages 0-3 and certain other groups. The legislation was championed by Representatives Bird and Sirota and Senators Zenzinger and Kirkmeyer.
HB23-1300 ensures that eligible children ages 0-3 stay covered without needing to reapply or prove ongoing eligibility until they turn 4. This policy is especially critical as over 147,000 children have been disenrolled from Medicaid since the beginning of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) Unwind in early 2023.
Why Continuous Coverage Matters
Health insurance matters for kids. It helps ensure they can see a health care provider for routine visits, illness and injuries and improves their long-term well-being in areas beyond physical health. Kids with health insurance coverage are:
less likely to drop out of high school,
more likely to graduate from college,
and have higher incomes as adults.
In Colorado, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP or CHP+) provide a critical lifeline for families, covering over 40% of children statewide. Yet, administrative hurdles—like frequent eligibility redeterminations—often result in “churn,” where children temporarily lose coverage, despite still qualifying.
Continuous coverage stops these interruptions from happening, ensuring that kids keep access to essential healthcare services.
Why This Is Critical Now: The Impact of the Public Health Unwind
The COVID-19 pandemic brought immense challenges to the health of children and families, but we also saw the temporary expansion of Medicaid protections. During the PHE, states had to keep Medicaid enrollees covered without redetermination, which resulted in record-high coverage rates for children in Colorado and nationwide.
In 2022, only 5% of Colorado children under 19 (approximately 62,000 kids) did not have health insurance.
However, as the PHE officially ended in 2023, states began the complex process of unwinding these temporary measures. In Colorado, this has translated to a significant administrative burden and many families lost health coverage, often without even knowing it.
In fact, Colorado is one of ten states nationwide who have fewer children enrolled in Medicaid now than before the start of the pandemic.
We know that implementing multi-year continuous Medicaid coverage for young children is not just timely—it is essential. It ensures stability for families after a time of uncertainty, and a time when children are so young and have many health care needs.
“The Colorado Children’s Campaign is committed to ensuring all children, especially those furthest from access, have high-quality and affordable health care coverage, and that starts with our youngest Coloradans. We are grateful to our legislative champions, Representatives Bird and Sirota and Senators Zenzinger and Kirkmeyer, for their leadership on this impactful legislation, and our partners from around the state who will continue to advance this work,” says Heather Tritten, President and CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
The Road Ahead
CMS’s recent approval of continuous coverage in Colorado and other states sends a strong message: protecting children’s health must remain a top priority. This is a critical moment, as states nationwide face the challenge of unwinding pandemic-era Medicaid protections.
Continuous coverage offers a practical solution to these challenges. By reducing the frequency of eligibility checks, states can cut administrative costs while ensuring that more children keep the healthcare they need. It’s a win-win for families and our state budget alike.
Colorado has long been a leader in expanding access to healthcare for children. Continuous eligibility coverage aligns with the Colorado Children’s Campaign’s values of equity and inclusion, ensuring that all children—regardless of income, race, or ZIP code—have the opportunity to thrive.
We look forward to successfully implementing this policy to go into effect on January 1, 2026.
