Questions About Your Medicaid Coverage? Here’s How to Stay Connected to Mental Health Care

You may be reading this blog because you recently received notice that your Medicaid coverage ended, you want to know more about recent shifts in Colorado's Medicaid Program (Health First Colorad0), or because you’re concerned about upcoming changes due to federal healthcare legislation—usually referred to as the “big beautiful bill”—that could affect your benefits.

Whatever your situation, our goal is to empower you with information and guidance to help you navigate through it all.

What To Do If You Lose Your Medicaid Coverage

Before getting into the recent and upcoming changes, let’s talk about what to do if you lose your coverage today.

Step 1: Breathe

First, it’s important to pause and acknowledge how stressful this can feel. Losing coverage for therapy doesn’t just affect your finances—it can also bring up fears about losing progress, support, and consistency in your mental health journey. You are not alone in this, and you do have options.

Step 2: Confirm the Details

Sometimes coverage ends because of missed paperwork or a missed renewal date, eligibility updates, or income reporting. Contact Health First Colorado right away to confirm the reason.

Step 3: Renew or Appeal (as Applicable)

Visit this site to get started on a renewal, or go here to appeal an eligibility decision you don't agree with.

Step 4: Explore Alternative Coverage

If Medicaid is no longer available to you, check whether you qualify for:

• Marketplace plans through HealthCare.gov (special enrollment may apply if you lost Medicaid).

• Employer-sponsored insurance if you or a spouse has access. Check out which insurance plans we cover here.

Step 5: Explore Low-Cost Therapy Options

If paying out-of-pocket is what will work best, check out the low-cost therapy options available to you, such as:

• Sliding scale rates: Many therapists (including ours) offer reduced fees based on income. View our rate scale here.

• Affordable Counseling Program: If your therapist’s rate still feels out of reach, consider working with one of our supervised Clinical Graduate Student Interns for lower-cost therapy.

• Therapy groups: Group therapy offers connection, support, and affordable care at rates lower than individual sessions. Keep an eye out for our upcoming groups.

Step 6: Take Care of Your Mental Health in the Meantime

Even while you’re working through insurance issues, your mental health still matters. Keep using the tools you’ve learned in therapy, and consider free or low-cost resources such as:

• Free support groups (local or online).

• Mental health apps and workbooks.

• Crisis lines and warm lines for immediate support.

Throughout the Process: Communicate with Your Therapist and Her Time Therapy

If your coverage has ended, let your therapist and us know what’s going on. Many therapists can:

• Tell you their reduced private-pay rate.

• Suggest sliding-scale options.

• Help you plan for continuity of care while you resolve your insurance.

• Refer you to community clinics or support groups if necessary.

Your therapist wants you to keep getting care—don’t be afraid to ask what resources they recommend.

The Bottom Line

Losing Medicaid coverage can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to mean losing your therapist or stopping your care. By acting quickly, exploring your options, and staying connected to support, you can navigate this transition without losing momentum in your healing journey.

What Has Changed—and What’s Still Ahead

There’s a lot happening with Medicaid right now—both nationally and in Colorado.

In Colorado, regional organizations for Medicaid have reduced from seven regions to four as of July 1, 2025.

Image source: Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (https://hcpf.colorado.gov/accphaseIII)

You and your primary care provider belong to a regional organization that helps make sure you get health care and services you need—including mental health care. If you've experienced coverage disruption and think your region may have changed, you can find your regional organization on your Medicaid ID card in the Health First Colorado mobile app or by calling Health First Colorado Enrollment at 303-839-2120.

Nationally, the “big beautiful bill” will change how Medicaid works across the country, including:

• Tightening income limits

• Adding stricter work and reporting requirements

• Shortening renewal timelines

For women—who make up nearly 58% of all Medicaid recipients—these changes make it harder to keep coverage. And while many provisions affecting Colorado Medicaid members and providers won’t take effect until December 2026, it’s important to prepare now to avoid losing access to care unexpectedly.

Here are what steps to take to protect your mental health care and avoid sudden coverage loss:

Step 1: Check Your Medicaid Status Now

Don’t wait until you get a cancellation notice.

• Log in to your Health First Colorado account or call your caseworker.

• Confirm your eligibility and renewal date.

• Write that date somewhere visible—your fridge, phone calendar, or sticky notes.

• Set reminders so you never miss a renewal deadline.

Missing a renewal date is one of the most common (and most preventable) reasons people lose coverage.

Step 2: Keep Your Information Up to Date

Health First Colorado often sends important letters by mail or email—and outdated contact info can cause coverage to end unexpectedly.

• If you move, change jobs, or your income changes, update your information right away.

• Open and read every letter or email from Health First Colorado and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

• Complete and return forms as soon as possible.

  
  

If you get a notice you don’t understand, ask for help early—don’t wait until the deadline is here.

Step 3: Know Your Support System

If you feel stuck:

• Call or chat online with Health First Colorado.

• Bring up confusing paperwork to your therapist. At Her Time Therapy, we can’t process Medicaid paperwork for you, but we can help you understand what it means and plan your next steps.

  
  

Step 4: Explore Other Coverage Options Early

If you think you might lose Medicaid—or just want to prepare—look into alternatives now:

• Employer Insurance: If you work, see if your job offers benefits or if you can negotiate for them.

• Spouse/Partner Insurance: If applicable, check whether you can join their plan.

• Health Insurance Marketplace: Apply at Connect for Health Colorado. You may qualify for tax credits that lower the cost more than you expect.

• Children’s Coverage: Even if you lose Medicaid, your children might still qualify for Medicaid or CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).

Step 5: Plan Your Budget for Care

If coverage changes, ask:

• Can I pay for therapy out of pocket for a while?

• Would switching from weekly to biweekly sessions help?

• Could shorter sessions (30 minutes) still give me the support I need?

At Her Time Therapy, we offer sliding scale rates and flexible session plans to help clients stay in care when insurance changes.

Step 6: Know Your Rights

If Health First Colorado ends your coverage by mistake, you can appeal—but act quickly:

• Keep all letters, emails, and notes from phone calls.

• File appeals within your state’s deadlines (these can be short).

• Ask about “retroactive coverage” that could pay for recent appointments.

Step 7: Her Time Therapy’s Support Options

We’re committed to helping you stay connected to care. In addition to sliding scale therapy and flexible scheduling, we’re expanding:

• More Insurance Partnerships: Currently in-network with Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum, Oxford, and Medicare—with more to come.

• Wellness Services: Personal training and health coaching packages for ongoing self-care.

• Financial Counseling: Launching in November to help women build financial security and reduce future coverage risks.

You’re Not Alone in This

Insurance changes can feel overwhelming—but your mental health shouldn't have to suffer. You deserve consistent, supportive care even when the system feels complicated.

Take these actions now:

• Check your Health First Colorado status.

• Keep your contact info current.

• Read and respond to every Medicaid notice.

• Explore alternative coverage.

• Make a plan with your therapist.

• Know your rights to appeal.

Your mental health matters too much to put on hold. If you have questions about staying in care, reach out to your therapist or contact us through Her Time Therapy’s website.

If you don’t yet have a therapist but want a safe place to turn during uncertain times, we’re here. Book your free consultation today and take the next step toward steady, ongoing care.

Call/Text (720) 255-1667 | info@hertimetherapy.com | www.hertimetherapy.com

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About the Author

Lauren Veazey, MA, LPCC, NCC, is a Licensed Professional Counseling Candidate at Her Time Therapy, PLLC, a group therapy practice specializing in teletherapy for women. With a particular passion for working with the perinatal and postpartum population, busy/overwhelmed women, and those experiencing grief, she believes in the healing power of therapy for women to love themselves, trust themselves, and know themselves.

*Disclaimer: This blog does not provide medical advice and the information contained herein is for informational purposes only. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed health provider before undertaking a new treatment or health care regimen. 

*Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain ads and affiliate links that Her Time Therapy, LLC earns a small commission from when you make a purchase by clicking links on our site at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualified purchases. Rest assured, we only recommend products we've used ourselves and would feel comfortable recommending to clients to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.