More than 100,000 Coloradans could be forced to drop their health insurance if Congress passes the current version of the federal reconciliation bill—also dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—according to new estimates released Tuesday by the Colorado Division of Insurance.
Coverage Gains at Risk
This Article Includes
If the bill becomes law without extending key federal subsidies, state officials say:
-
Over 110,000 people who buy insurance on the individual market will likely go uninsured due to soaring premiums.
-
The state’s uninsured rate—which had steadily declined since the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—could spike, erasing a decade of progress.
-
Combined with expected Medicaid coverage losses under the bill, the impact could ripple across hospitals, clinics, employers, and families.
“The ripple effects of this are going to be massive,” warned Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway. “There won’t be any corner of our health care system that won’t be touched by what’s about to come down.”
Why Will Costs Spike?
The potential insurance cost surge stems from a perfect storm of policy rollbacks:
-
ACA subsidies that help individuals afford insurance would expire.
-
That would reduce funding for Colorado’s reinsurance program, which helps insurers lower premiums.
-
Colorado would also lose a federal policy loophole it has used to boost subsidy amounts for lower- and middle-income residents.
Together, these changes could dramatically raise premiums for Coloradans who aren’t covered by employer-based insurance or Medicaid.
Gov. Polis Sounds the Alarm
Governor Jared Polis has sent an urgent letter to Colorado’s Congressional delegation, warning them about the damage this bill would cause if passed in its current form.
The letter highlights:
-
A dramatic rise in uninsured residents,
-
Severe financial strain on the state’s health care system,
-
And the economic burden on individuals, families, and small businesses.
What’s at Stake
The bill—championed by President Donald Trump’s allies and already passed by the U.S. House—is part of a broader push to shrink federal spending and rein in the national debt, now over $36 trillion.
But critics argue the cost-cutting comes at the expense of working families, especially in states like Colorado where health care affordability is already fragile.
Without immediate federal action to extend subsidies and preserve Medicaid support, health care access in Colorado could face its most serious threat since before the ACA.
