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New law passed by Colorado Democrats helped prevent nearly 100,000 Coloradans from losing their health care plan in 2025
DENVER, CO – Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist and Speaker Julie McCluskie today released the following statements after Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem’s HMO Colorado withdrew the discontinuances of health care plans that they filed in August.
Colorado Democrats passed HB25B-1006 to help blunt health insurance rate increases and significantly reduce the number of Coloradans who could lose their health insurance coverage due to Congress’s refusal to extend the enhanced premium tax credits.
“While I am relieved to hear that Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem will continue to offer health care coverage for Coloradans, Congress must act now to continue the enhanced premium tax credits to prevent massive increases in health care costs,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Thanks to our new law, over 96,000 Coloradans will stay insured on their health care plan, but Congress’s inaction will still cause health care costs to skyrocket for hardworking Coloradans and small businesses. I strongly urge Republicans in Congress to step up to the plate and prevent these life-threatening price increases.”
“Colorado Democrats passed legislation that is already preventing people from losing their health care coverage, but only Congress can prevent premium increases from jumping thousands of dollars,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “Every Coloradan deserves access to affordable, quality health care. When people skip doctor’s visits due to high cost or lack of coverage, it leads to worse health outcomes. Plus, the bill for these costly and preventable treatments gets passed onto everyone else, increasing costs for businesses and people with every type of health insurance. For many Coloradans, Congress’s failure to act before the end of the month could be life or death.”
“Colorado Democrats have continued to demonstrate our commitment to making health care more affordable for all Coloradans, but if Congressional Republicans do not act soon, Coloradans on average can expect a 20-percent increase on their health care premiums,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “The law we passed this special session is the reason that insurers are no longer pulling out of counties across Colorado, which will protect access to health care for almost 100,000 Coloradans. I strongly urge Congress to do what is right for the people in our state and prevent unsustainable premium increases by extending tax credits for people who purchase their own health insurance.”
In August, Rocky Mountain HMO and Anthem’s HMO Colorado filed to discontinue multiple health insurance plans in the individual market due to the failure of Congressional Republicans to extend the enhanced premium tax credits. This would have caused 96,000 Coloradans to lose their health insurance coverage, impacting Coloradans from the Denver Metro Area and the Western Slope to the Eastern Plains.
Last month, the Colorado General Assembly returned to the Capitol to combat some of the harm caused by Trump’s tax bill and Congress’s failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits for people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Colorado Democrats passed HB25B-1006 to blunt serious increases in insurance premiums and protect health care coverage for Coloradans by helping the reinsurance program buy down premiums and cover the most expensive health care for patients. With Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits, average statewide premiums were projected to increase by 28-percent. In the Eastern Plains, premiums are expected to rise more than 33-percent. The Western Slope will see premium increases of about 38-percent. Passing HB25-1006 is projected to keep premium increases to a statewide average of only 20-percent.