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Polis Urges Congress to Stop Health Insurance Increases

INTERVIEW | Colorado Governor Jared Polis speaks with Jesús Sánchez Meleán, Editor of El Comercio de Colorado. (Photo/Felipe Arredondo)

CALL TO EXTEND TAX CREDITS TO PREVENT PREMIUM HIKES

Newsroom El Comercio de Colorado Staff

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Colorado Governor Jared Polis made a direct appeal to the federal Congress. Polis is urging Congress to extend health tax credits to prevent a 28% or more hike in health insurance premiums starting January 1, 2025. In an interview with El Comercio de Colorado, the governor said there is still time to act and prevent a healthcare coverage crisis in the state.

“If Congress renews the tax credits and stops Medicaid cuts, we could avoid this increase. Premiums would rise as they historically have—by 2% to 5%—not by 28%,” said Polis. “I don’t want to give people false hope, but it’s still possible to avoid such a large increase. I’m formally asking Congress to act now, in the coming months,” he emphasized.

The increase would directly impact thousands of working families in Colorado, who may be forced to drop their insurance due to cost. “Some people will take the risk of living without health insurance,” the governor warned. Polis also addressed the local impacts of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” the new federal law that requires significant adjustments to the state budget.

OmniSalud Program Safe

Polis did not rule out calling a special session of the Colorado General Assembly before January. “We’re evaluating whether action is needed before the next session starts. If something urgent arises, we’ll call one,” he said. A bit of relief amid this complex scenario is the continuity of the OmniSalud program, which provides coverage to people without immigration status.

“To my understanding, the final version of the bill doesn’t affect it. The program continues. However, its users will also face the 28% premium increase,” he clarified. The governor acknowledged that complying with this federal mandate will require more bureaucracy and administrative costs. “We’ll have to hire hundreds of bureaucrats to manage the new federal Medicaid requirements,” he said.

“The money we’ll spend verifying Medicaid work requirement compliance could instead go to doctors and nurses, but now it’ll go to paperwork,” he lamented. He expressed concern over the effects on Medicaid. “Hundreds of thousands of people in Colorado will lose their coverage. Work requirements will be implemented that make it harder to keep the benefit,” he explained.

Tariffs and the Economy

The governor also commented on the consequences of new trade tariffs, especially those affecting imports from Mexico and Canada. “Tariffs raise prices and could cause manufacturing companies to leave Colorado. Tariffs directly impact jobs and the cost of food and clothing,” he said.

Quick Questions for Polis

What will Colorado do to celebrate the 250/150 anniversaries?
Jared Polis: We want to hear from the public. People can participate in the planning at co150walkway.com. Colorado is celebrating 150 years, and the United States, 250.

Will you launch your own sneaker brand?
JP: With the tariffs, I don’t know who’ll be able to afford them. Maybe sneakers made here will cost $300 or $400. The ones I’m wearing cost $29.

What will you do in January or February of 2027?
JP: I don’t have plans yet. I’m focused on what’s coming next week.

Message of Congratulations

At the end of the conversation, Polis congratulated El Comercio de Colorado on its 500th edition.
“Five hundred editions. Congratulations! That’s a great milestone for a media outlet that informs and empowers the Latino community.”