Members of Federally recognized tribes can enroll in health insurance year round. Native Americans also qualify for healthcare discounts and may be eligible for financial help to lower their monthly premium.
Did you know?
- If you get services from an Indian Healthcare Provider, you won’t have any out-of-pocket costs like copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, regardless of your income.
- You will need a referral from an Indian health care provider when getting care from a non-Indian Healthcare Provider to avoid paying copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance.
- Indian trust income isn’t counted when determining eligibility for financial help, including Health First Colorado or CHP+.
- Income from casino earnings does count as taxable income.
- Other income derived from Indian lands or from items of cultural or traditional significance is not counted for Health First Colorado or CHP+.
If some of your household members are a member of a Federally-recognized tribe and some are not, you can still access the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) available to tribal members as long as you are listed on the same application. This SEP is available once per month, year round.
Healthcare discounts
All Native Americans enrolling through Connect for Health Colorado qualify for plans that have healthcare discounts including either:
- zero co-pays, zero deductibles, and zero out-of-pocket costs, OR
- lower co-pays, lower deductibles, and lower out-of-pocket costs
Depending on income, Native Americans signing up for health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado may still pay a monthly premium. The cost sharing discounts for Native Americans can be applied to any plan sold through Connect for Health Colorado. Bronze plans will have the lowest monthly premiums.
Zero out-of-pocket costs
- You do not have to pay copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance when getting care from an Indian Health Service provider or when getting essential health benefits through a Connect for Health Colorado plan.
- You do not need a referral from an Indian Health Service provider when getting essential health benefits through a Connect for Health Colorado plan.
Lower out-of-pocket costs
- You do not have to pay copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance when getting care from an Indian Health Service provider.
- You do need a referral from an Indian Health Service providers when getting essential health benefits through a Connect for Health Colorado plan to avoid paying copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance.
Annual income ranges that qualify for health care discounts for Native Americans:
| Family Size | Annual income range for Native Americans | |||
| Get lower monthly premiums and healthcare discounts that lower out-of-pocket costs | Get lower monthly premiums and healthcare discounts that have zero out-of-pocket costs | Get lower monthly premiums and healthcare discounts that lower out-of-pocket costs | Get healthcare discounts that lower out-of-pocket costs | |
| 1 | $0 – $13,590 | $13,591 – $40,770 | $40,771 – $54,360 | $54,361 and above |
| 2 | $0 – $18,310 | $18,311 – $54,930 | $54,931 – $73,240 | $73,241 and above |
| 3 | $0 – $23,030 | $23,031 – $69,090 | $69,091 – $92,120 | $92,121 and above |
| 4 | $0 – $27,750 | $27,751 – $83,250 | $83,251 – $111,000 | $111,001 and above |
| 5 | $0 – $32,470 | $32,471 – $97,410 | $97,411 – $129,880 | $129,881 and above |
| 6 | $0 – $37,190 | $37,191 – $111,570 | $111,571 – $148,760 | $148,761 and above |
Financial help
All Coloradans, including Native Americans, can apply through Connect for Health Colorado for financial help to lower the cost of private health insurance. The financial help you can get to lower your monthly payment is called a Premium Tax Credit.
Every family is unique. You can get financial help based on your family’s specific needs and situation including:
- Your family size;
- Where you live; and
- Your family’s estimated annual income.
You can use the financial help in two different ways:
- Get the financial help in advance to lower your monthly premiums; or
- Wait until you file your taxes to get a premium tax credit added to your tax refund.
You can get an estimate of how much financial help you qualify for with our Quick Cost Plan Finder
Qualifying monthly incomes for Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)
Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) is free or low-cost health care for Colorado children and adults who qualify.
Native Americans can enroll in Health First Colorado any time during the year, if they qualify based on their current monthly income and household size.
| Family Size | Approximate Monthly Family Income to Qualify for Health First Colorado | ||
| Adults 19 – 65 | Children 0 – 18 | Pregnant People | |
| 1 | Up to $1,507 | Up to $1,609 | Up to $2,209 |
| 2 | Up to $2,030 | Up to $2,167 | Up to $2,976 |
| 3 | Up to $2,553 | Up to $2,726 | Up to $3,743 |
| 4 | Up to $3,076 | Up to $3,284 | Up to $4,510 |
| 5 | Up to $3,599 | Up to $3,843 | Up to $5,277 |
| 6 | Up to $4,122 | Up to $4,401 | Up to $6,044 |
Updated June 2022
Health First Colorado benefits for tribal members and their dependents
- Native Americans do not have to pay Medicaid premiums or enrollment fees if they are eligible to receive care from an Indian Health Service provider or through referral to a non-Indian provider (such as Purchased/Referred Care).
- Native Americans do not have to pay any cost sharing, like deductibles, coinsurance, or copayments, for any Medicaid services from any Medicaid provider if they have ever received a service or referral from and Indian Health Service provider.
- Children who are Native American cannot be charged any premium, enrollment fee, copayment, coinsurance, or deductible in CHP+.
Learn more about Health First Colorado’s programs for Native Americans »