Colorado Access

What Colorado Access does

Colorado Access is a Denver-based nonprofit health plan founded in 1994 that administers public health benefits for low-income Coloradans. The company operates as a Regional Organization under Colorado's Accountable Care Collaborative Phase III for Region 4 — covering Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas counties — delivering Health First Colorado (Medicaid) benefits that span physical health, behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, pharmacy, dental, vision, and non-emergency medical transportation. It also administers Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) coverage for children through age 18 and pregnant people across its service area, and operates as both a Regional Accountable Entity for behavioral health services and a Medicaid HMO for CHP+. Underlying operations run on conventional payor infrastructure: a HealthX-based provider portal for eligibility, claims, and provider directory functions; Navitus Health Solutions for pharmacy benefit management (formulary, prior authorization, mail order via Costco); DentaQuest for dental benefits administration; IntelliRide (Transdev) for NEMT; and a multi-vendor EDI clearinghouse stack (Availity, Change Healthcare, ClaimRemedi, Office Ally, Optum, Experian Health, HealthFusion, Relay Health, SSI Group, Zirmed, Practice Insight, MedAssets) for electronic claims submission. Care delivery is supported by founding partnerships with Children's Hospital Colorado, the University of Colorado Hospital, University of Colorado Medicine, and the Colorado Community Managed Care Network.

The company's revenue model is capitated premium income from government payors. Colorado Access receives per-member-per-month capitation payments from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing for Health First Colorado members and for CHP+ enrollees, making the State of Colorado its de facto single payor. Beginning January 1, 2027, Colorado Access will diversify its revenue base by offering Colorado Access Choice ACA-compliant Qualified Health Plans through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Access Connected Care Partners Inc., on Colorado's Individual Marketplace (Connect for Health Colorado), distributing through brokers and assisters and targeting individuals transitioning off Medicaid/CHP+ as well as subsidy-eligible shoppers. Customer engagement is delivered via the corporate website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, X), monthly provider newsletters, community health fairs (including a branded outreach van), provider referrals, and state-program enrollment channels at co.gov/PEAK. The company employs 501-1000 staff and is led by President & CEO Annie Lee, JD, with April Abrahamson as COO, Phil Reed as CFO, and Jaime Moreno as Chief Communications & Members Experience Officer.

Name

Colorado Access

Legal name

Colorado Access

Website

https://coaccess.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Colorado Access is a Denver-based nonprofit health plan founded in 1994 that administers Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and CHP+ benefits for residents of Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas counties, and will begin offering Individual Marketplace plans via subsidiary Access Connected Care Partners Inc. in 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medicaid Managed Care

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Aged, Blind & Disabled (ABD) Managed Care Plans (HLAEAEAC)

Keywords

• Managed care services
• Medicaid health plan
• Behavioral health services
• Care coordination programs
• Pharmacy benefit management

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medicaid Capitated Premiums: Colorado Access receives capitated premium payments from the state of Colorado for managing Health First Colorado (Medicaid) members in designated regions. The company assumes responsibility for providing or arranging healthcare services for enrolled members.
2. CHP+ Capitated Premiums: The company receives capitated premiums for managing Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) members, a low-cost health insurance program for children through age 18 and pregnant people.
3. Marketplace Premiums (2027): Beginning in plan year 2027, Colorado Access (through Access Connected Care Partners Inc.) will offer Qualified Health Plans on Colorado's Individual Marketplace, generating premium revenue from individuals and families shopping for coverage, including those eligible for subsidies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Colorado Access is a nonprofit health plan that administers Health First Colorado (Medicaid) regional organization services and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) for members in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas counties. The company manages physical health, behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, pharmacy benefits (via Navitus), dental benefits (via DentaQuest), non-emergency medical transportation (via IntelliRide), and care coordination services for enrolled members. Through its subsidiary Access Connected Care Partners Inc., Colorado Access is launching Colorado Access Choice Qualified Health Plans on the Individual Marketplace starting January 1, 2027.

Product overview

Colorado Access is a nonprofit health plan founded in 1994 offering a multi-product portfolio focused on Medicaid and CHIP populations in Colorado. The core offering consists of Health First Colorado (Medicaid) regional organization services and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) for children and pregnant people in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas counties. A new strategic product, Colorado Access Choice (via Access Connected Care Partners Inc.), extends coverage to the Individual Marketplace for 2027, designed to serve individuals transitioning off public programs. Member-facing add-on modules include mental health and recovery services, care coordination, member engagement programs, dental benefits (through DentaQuest), pharmacy benefit management (through Navitus), and non-emergency medical transportation (through IntelliRide). Provider-facing infrastructure includes a HealthX-based provider portal for claims and eligibility management. The company operates as both a Regional Accountable Entity for behavioral health and a Medicaid HMO for CHP+ services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Colorado Access Choice: ACA-compliant Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) offered on Colorado's Individual Marketplace, designed to support individuals and families who may move between Health First Colorado, CHP+, and the Individual Marketplace.

Products and services

• Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) Regional organization administering Health First Colorado Medicaid benefits for members in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Douglas counties, providing physical health, behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, pharmacy, dental, vision, and transportation services to enrolled Medicaid beneficiaries.
• Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Guardian Recovery PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2025Expanded partnership to provide adolescent mental health and addiction treatment resources for Denver-area families. Includes access to Montville Adolescent Center in New Jersey offering inpatient detoxification, residential treatment, and supportive therapies designed for teens and adolescents. Initiative addresses the shortage of adolescent treatment resources in Colorado.
• NRT Behavioral Health ProgramscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025NRT Behavioral Health will accept Colorado Access and Colorado Community Health Alliance health plans, enabling services for Medicaid clients across Colorado at Foundry Steamboat, Foundry Front Range, and Foundry Outpatient Steamboat locations, focusing on substance use and mental health treatment.
• Children's Hospital ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner provider offering pediatric healthcare services to Colorado Access members.
• Colorado Community Managed Care NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner provider network supporting community-based healthcare delivery.
• University of Colorado HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor academic medical center partner providing specialized and tertiary care services.
• University of Colorado MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic faculty practice plan partner supporting clinical care and medical education.
• DentaQuestcoreTechnology or IntegrationDental benefits administrator for Health First Colorado and CHP+ members. Members contact DentaQuest for dental provider searches and benefit questions.
• Navitus Health SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationPharmacy benefit manager managing prescription drug benefits for CHP+ members. Operates member portal, formulary management, and prior authorization reviews.
• Intelliride (Transdev)coreTechnology or IntegrationTransportation services partner providing non-emergency medical transportation to appointments for Health First Colorado members.
• Costco Mail Order PharmacysupportingTechnology or IntegrationMail order pharmacy option for 90-day supply medication delivery. Members do not need Costco membership to use this service.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Denver Health Medical Plan: Denver-based nonprofit health plan serving Medicaid, CHP+, and Medicare populations in the Denver metro area. Direct competitor to Colorado Access in the same regional Medicaid market with overlapping county footprints.
• Rocky Mountain Health Plans: Regional Colorado health plan serving Medicaid and other government programs, now part of UnitedHealth Group. Comparable Medicaid managed care model and similar focus on underserved Colorado populations.
• Colorado Community Health Alliance: Colorado-based regional organization referenced alongside Colorado Access as accepting partner health plans (e.g., NRT Behavioral Health). Operates in adjacent Colorado Medicaid regions with similar care coordination and behavioral health focus.

Broad incumbents

• Kaiser Permanente Colorado: Major integrated health system and health plan serving the Denver-Boulder region across commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare lines. Overlaps with Colorado Access in the Denver Medicaid market and is likely to compete in the 2027 Marketplace entry.
• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Colorado: Major statewide health insurer offering commercial, Marketplace, and Medicaid plans. Established competitor in Colorado's Individual Marketplace and one of the largest carriers Colorado Access Choice will face at launch.
• UnitedHealthcare Colorado: National managed care company operating in Colorado with significant Medicaid presence, including ownership of Rocky Mountain Health Plans. Competes directly in the Colorado Medicaid and Marketplace segments.
• Centene Corporation: Largest U.S. Medicaid managed care company, operating plans in multiple states including Colorado. Provides scale benchmark and direct competitive pressure on smaller regional Medicaid plans like Colorado Access.
• Molina Healthcare: National Medicaid-focused managed care company with state government contracts. Direct comparable in business model emphasis on Medicaid populations and government-sponsored healthcare programs.
• Elevance Health: Parent of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and several Medicaid plans across the U.S. Represents the integrated payer-provider model that increasingly competes with regional nonprofit plans in government healthcare markets.

Regional players

• Friday Health Plans: Colorado-based health insurer focused on Individual Marketplace plans. Direct comparable for Colorado Access's planned 2027 Marketplace entry, with established broker relationships and underwriting experience in the Colorado ACA market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coaccess
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCknf1o-Ksw_bhWnmeW662vA
• Facebookfacebook.com/coloradoaccess
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-access
• Instagraminstagram.com/coloradoaccess

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Access