Denver, CO – One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families, commends the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) for their updated gender-affirming care insurance policy to better meet the needs of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive Coloradans who utilize Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid). The revised policy aligns closely with current WPATH best practices in gender-affirming healthcare, reduces barriers to accessing care, and allows individuals the autonomy to decide what their gender journey is. The updates will go into effect next month on August 30th! As states around the country are banning and restricting gender-affirming care, Colorado stands firm in protecting and expanding access to LGBTQ+ healthcare. Colorado’s Medicaid coverage is now one of the best for gender-affirming care, leading our state and nation on best practices. When equitable and individualized gender-affirming care is available, it reduces sickness and death, which decreases the cost to insurance companies, and improves individuals’ quality of life. This updated insurance policy is an excellent step in the right direction, but the work does not end here. One Colorado will continue advocating for all LGBTQ+ Coloradans to have access to the care they need to live their happiest, healthiest, and most authentic lives.

“HCPF is proud to modernize our gender-affirming care rules," said Adela Flores-Brennan (she/her), Medicaid Director for the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing. "We are confident that these updates will help improve equitable access to care for the transgender and gender-diverse community, and we are grateful to our partners for their collaboration and advocacy in creating A Colorado for All.”

"This is a huge step in ensuring access to health care for trans and non-binary people in our state,” said Jack Teter (he/they), Regional Director of Government Affairs for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. “No one should be barred from accessing the identity-affirming care they need simply because they are on Medicaid. During a time when we’ve seen an unprecedented amount of anti-trans legislation introduced in state legislatures across the country, this update sends a strong message about our values here in Colorado."

‍About Health First Colorado

• Health First Colorado is free or low-cost health care for Colorado children and adults who meet monthly income requirements.
• According to One Colorado’s most recent LGBTQ+ health equity research, Closing the Gap, 1 in 5 transgender Coloradans is covered by Medicaid.
• Health First Colorado does not have an open enrollment period, so you can apply at any time here.

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View the revised policy here. Contact Communications Director Gillian Ford (she/her) to set up an interview with One Colorado’s Health Equity Manager Skylar Patron, RN (they/them) regarding the HCPF policy updates and impacts on the LGBTQ+ Colorado community.