We are now on day 23 of Republicans’ government shutdown.
This fight is about lowering health care costs for more than 35 million Americans after Republicans created a crisis by passing a bill that slashes $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
It all comes to a head on November 1st – the deadline for insurance companies to notify millions of Americans with marketplace plans that their premiums will be increasing in 2026.
So far, Republicans aren’t listening. House Republicans haven’t even bothered to show up in Washington for more than a month.
These cuts will impact Coloradans in every single congressional district. We heard from several Coloradans whose health care Republicans have put at risk. NowThis Impact highlighted one of the stories – watch the clip HERE.
Mercedes, who lives in Commerce City – Rep. Gabe Evans’ district – hasn’t been able to take her six-week-old daughter home from the hospital because she was diagnosed with a rare disorder that requires extra care. Mercedes and her husband visit their daughter in the NICU every single day.
In the middle of running their small business, raising their seven year old daughter, and visiting their newborn in the NICU, Mercedes and her husband received notice that their marketplace premiums are going up next year, beyond the $1,000 a month they already struggle to afford.
“Would we still be able to afford our mortgage, groceries, save for retirement for our children’s futures? These are not decisions that any person or family should have to make in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and I hope that Congress makes the correct decision to continue the subsidies for the American people,” Mercedes told us.
Across Colorado, people on Affordable Care Act plans will face an average 28% increase in their monthly premiums unless Republicans vote to extend ACA premium tax credits. Rural Colorado will be hit even harder.
Diane, who lives in Wellington in Northern Colorado – Rep. Lauren Boebert’s district – worked for the state government for 30 years. Diane was recently in a car accident and relied on her ACA plan to cover the cost of her hospital stay and rehabilitation. She also received notice that her premiums are going to increase, and told us she will be forced to give up her health insurance.
“I’m just rolling the dice and just keeping my fingers crossed, because if an auto accident occurred again without [marketplace] insurance, I’d be homeless, period. I’d be homeless,” Diane said. “This is not politics, this is life or death. Period…And it’s like we’re being punished.”
CJ Miller, who lives in rural Colorado, is bracing for his family’s premiums to increase as much as 196%.
“My family is facing, most likely, a 196% – that’s basically doubling – overall increase in our bill next year, which makes it much more than my mortgage. We’re not going to be able to afford that. To put it simply, this prices health care out of range for my family and many others,” said CJ.
Republicans’ budget bill, which passed in July, cuts over $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Though some of the Medicaid cuts don’t go into effect until 2027, some Coloradans are already experiencing the strain.
Nicole, who lives in Black Hawk, is the full-time caregiver of her almost twenty year old son who has a severe seizure disorder and relies on Medicaid. Without Medicaid, her son’s care would cost more than $70,000 a year out of pocket.
The Republicans’ nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid forced Colorado to cut the compensation rate for full-time family caregivers, like Nicole, by 10%. Before the cuts, Nicole already made less than minimum wage for the round-the-clock care she provides her son.
“A 10% cut is unfathomable to most people when you talk about your income,” Nicole said. “This fight is important because it’s not just about my son, it’s about everyone’s loved ones across the country. Because if you’re not already in our boat – taking care of and trying to pay for a chronically disabled loved one, just trying to keep them alive – then you are just one accident or one illness away from having to care for or pay for that family member.”
Jeannie is a single mother from Aurora whose son has Down Syndrome. Jeannie told us that without the financial support she gets from Medicaid for her son’s care, she would fall into financial ruin. Right now, she’s worried about the changes coming to Medicaid – including new requirements that she prove her son’s eligibility for Medicaid twice a year, despite the fact that he has qualified for the program his entire life.
“Medicaid is already a very convoluted system to use already, and it’s extensive to qualify. It’s extensive to re-certify every year, and every year there seems to be some kind of complication,” said Jeannie. “Even as you’re trying to go through all the hoops to do it, there’s something that always comes back, that we missed something. So I do have concerns.”
This fight is about real people’s lives.
It’s about making sure Mercedes can continue to afford NICU bills, Diane can keep a roof over her head, CJ’s health care costs don’t exceed his mortgage, and Nicole can afford to care for her son full-time.
Republicans created this health care crisis. We’re demanding House and Senate Republicans work with us to fix it.
We live in the wealthiest country on earth. Affordable health care CAN and should be a guarantee.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED NOTICE THAT YOUR MARKETPLACE PREMIUMS ARE INCREASING? Please email us your story HERE.