Does Medicaid Cover Pediatric Therapy in Colorado?

The Short Answer: Yes

If your child has a developmental delay, autism diagnosis, or other qualifying condition, Health First Colorado (Medicaid) covers pediatric therapy services including ABA, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

At WellCare & Nurture, we accept Health First Colorado and Colorado Access — and we handle the insurance verification for you so you can focus on your child.

What Services Does Medicaid Cover?

Health First Colorado covers medically necessary pediatric therapy services, including:

Service	What It Covers
ABA Therapy	Behavioral support for children with autism spectrum disorder
Speech Therapy	Language delays, articulation, AAC devices, feeding therapy
Occupational Therapy	Sensory processing, fine motor skills, self-care, handwriting
Physical Therapy	Gross motor delays, balance, coordination, strength building

Coverage is based on medical necessity — meaning your child's pediatrician or a qualified provider determines that therapy is needed for your child's development.

Do I Need a Referral?

In most cases, yes. Health First Colorado typically requires a referral from your child's primary care provider (pediatrician). Here's how the process usually works:

1. Talk to your pediatrician about your concerns
2. Get a referral for a therapy evaluation
3. Call us — we'll verify your child's benefits and schedule the evaluation
4. Start therapy — once the evaluation confirms a need, we develop a treatment plan

If you're not sure where to start, we can help guide you through the process. Many families are surprised at how straightforward it is.

What About TRICARE?

For military families in Colorado Springs, TRICARE covers pediatric therapy services as well. Coverage details vary by plan (TRICARE Prime, Select, etc.), but most plans cover:

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for autism
• Speech-language pathology
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy

We're an in-network TRICARE provider, which means lower out-of-pocket costs for your family.

What Other Insurance Do You Accept?

In addition to Medicaid and TRICARE, WellCare & Nurture accepts:

• Aetna
• Cigna Healthcare
• BlueCross BlueShield
• Colorado Access

Not sure if we accept your plan? Call us at (719) 598-5555 and we'll check for you — no charge, no obligation.

What If My Child Doesn't Have Insurance?

We believe every child deserves access to quality care. If you're uninsured or underinsured:

• Colorado's CHP+ program provides coverage for children in families who earn too much for Medicaid but can't afford private insurance
• Early intervention programs through the state may provide services at no cost for children under 3
• We can help connect you with community resources

The Biggest Mistake Parents Make

Waiting. Many families assume therapy is too expensive or that insurance won't cover it — and they delay getting help during the most critical window of their child's development.

The reality is that most families pay little to nothing out of pocket when using Medicaid or TRICARE for pediatric therapy. And early intervention consistently leads to better outcomes.

Ready to Get Started?

You don't need to have everything figured out before you call. We'll walk you through the insurance process step by step.

• 📋 Schedule a free screening — no insurance needed for this step
• 🌱 Try our Little Leaps Milestone Checker to see where your child stands
• 📞 Call us at (719) 598-5555 with any questions

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WellCare & Nurture Pediatric Therapy is an in-network provider for Health First Colorado (Medicaid), Colorado Access, TRICARE, Aetna, Cigna, and BlueCross BlueShield in Colorado Springs.