Yes — Colorado Medicaid covers speech therapy for children, and Stoa Therapy accepts it. Many practices don’t take Medicaid; we built Stoa so that a child’s insurance never decides whether they get help. For most Medicaid families, therapy costs $0 per visit, delivered online by Colorado-licensed speech-language pathologists.

How Health First Colorado covers speech therapy

Health First Colorado is the state’s Medicaid program. Rather than traditional managed care plans, most members are connected to care through Regional Accountable Entities (RAEs), with physical and behavioral health benefits administered statewide. For members under 21, the federal EPSDT benefit guarantees coverage of medically necessary services — including speech-language evaluations and therapy — which makes children’s speech therapy one of Medicaid’s most solidly covered benefits.

Coverage works the same for speech therapy regardless of your region’s RAE. We confirm your child’s specific plan and coverage for free before your first appointment. Colorado’s EPSDT benefit for members under 21 is administered as Health First Colorado’s child wellness program — the coverage guarantee described above.

What’s covered

• Speech-language evaluation — the comprehensive assessment that identifies your child’s needs and establishes medical necessity
• Ongoing therapy sessions — typically weekly, delivered by live video with a licensed SLP
• The full range of conditions — speech and language delays, late talkers, articulation, apraxia, communication support for autistic children, stuttering, and more

How to start speech therapy with Colorado Medicaid

1. Book a free consultation (or call (517) 997-8198) and share your child’s Medicaid information.
2. We verify coverage for free — plan, benefits, and any authorization requirements — and tell you your expected cost (usually $0) before anything starts.
3. Evaluation and weekly sessions begin — online, from home, usually within days. We handle authorizations and billing directly with the plan.

Frequently asked questions

Does Colorado Medicaid really cover online speech therapy?

Yes — telehealth is a covered delivery method for speech therapy under Colorado Medicaid, and it’s how we serve families statewide, including areas with no local pediatric SLP.

Do we need a referral from our pediatrician?

You can start with us directly. If your child’s specific plan requires a physician’s order or authorization for ongoing therapy, we identify that during verification and handle the paperwork with your pediatrician.

Is there a waitlist for Medicaid patients?

No — Medicaid families get the same access as everyone else. Most families complete a consultation within a couple of days.

My child also gets speech services at school. Does Medicaid therapy affect that?

No — school IEP services and medical therapy through Medicaid are separate systems, and many families use both. We’re glad to coordinate goals with your school team.

Ready to use your Colorado Medicaid benefits? Book a free consultation — we’ll take it from there. More: speech therapy in Colorado · Medicaid overview · all insurance.