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Colorado Holds Health Insurance Enrollment Steady, Defying Subsidy Cliff
Colorado maintains stable health insurance enrollment with over 256,000 sign-ups, defying expectations after federal subsidies expired.
Key Points
- Colorado maintains stable health insurance enrollment with over 256,000 sign-ups, defying expectations after federal subsidies expired.
- The state passed a one-time funding measure, the Colorado Premium Assistance program, to counteract the loss of federal aid.
- The percentage of enrollees receiving financial assistance has dropped from 80% to 65%, raising concerns about affordability and premium payments.
- The situation reflects a surprising national trend of steady enrollment while a long-term federal solution remains stalled in Congress.
Despite expiring federal subsidies, Colorado’s 2026 health insurance enrollment is holding steady with more than 256,000 residents signed up, a surprising stability as reported by The Colorado Sun. The state is bucking national expectations thanks to its own last-minute funding measures, but the real test will come when the first, higher premium bills arrive.
Colorado goes it alone: That stability bucks early projections that over 75,000 residents would be forced from their plans. While Congress remains deadlocked on a federal fix, Colorado took matters into its own hands, with lawmakers pushing through one-time funding during a special session to create the Colorado Premium Assistance program.
The fine print: But officials warn the fight isn't over. Colorado's Insurance Commissioner, Michael Conway, cautioned that the numbers "don't tell the whole story," as the state waits to see how many people actually pay. That pressure is already forcing some residents to take drastic measures, like intentionally cutting work hours to remain eligible for aid, according to original reporting from The Colorado Sun.
While about 65% of shoppers will still get financial help—down from 80% last year—the difficult reality remains. As CEO Kevin Patterson put it, "No one should have to choose between paying for health insurance and putting food on the table or paying their mortgage." The situation in Colorado reflects a surprising national trend of steady enrollments despite the subsidy expirations.
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