DENVER, CO — At a moment when many Colorado families are already struggling to afford health insurance coverage and medical care and when federal support for people buying insurance on the individual marketplace has been cut, Colorado’s legislators are considering a bill that would sustain critical state programs that have kept insurance more affordable and accessible in recent years.
SB26-178, Health Insurance Affordability Measures, extends funding for the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise (HIAE) for another year. That will allow the state to continue supporting reinsurance, OmniSalud, and the Colorado Premium Assistance program, which help Coloradans afford and access health coverage on the individual marketplace.
Without the HIAE, premiums for some Colorado families could increase by hundreds of dollars a month and the insurance market will face increased instability. Coloradans who are immigrants without documentation would lose access to OmniSalud, which allows them to compare and enroll in health coverage. For many families, that will mean going uninsured and hoping their kids do not get sick.
“When families don’t have health insurance, children often don’t get to the doctor’s office when they need to. They go without needed prescriptions. And their families can be forced to take on debt when they do need health care,” said Toni Sarge, Director of Health Policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “Colorado needs to sustain the Colorado Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise so that families who buy insurance through the state marketplace do not see their monthly premiums increase beyond what they can afford.”
Last August, the Colorado legislature passed temporary, one-year funding for the HIAE to protect Coloradans from a predicted average 174% increase in premiums resulting from the expiration of federal enhanced Premium Tax Credits at the beginning of 2026. This extension was estimated to save Coloradans $75 million on their premiums in 2026.
Without long-term funding, thousands of Colorado families will lose coverage and the protections that make it affordable, meaning more kids will miss check-ups, go without prescriptions, and wait to get care until a minor illness becomes an emergency.
The bill will be heard in the Senate’s finance committee today, April 30.
About the Bill
Health Insurance Affordability Measures (SB26-178):
- Establishes sustainable long-term state funding for the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise
- Continues reinsurance, which helps bring down premiums, especially in rural Colorado
- Preserves OmniSalud, protecting coverage for eligible immigrants who have no other affordable option
- Maintains the state Premium Assistance program, which offsets the expiration of federal enhanced premium tax credits
Quotes From Bill Sponsors
This bill is sponsored by Senators Kyle Mullica and Iman Jodeh and Representatives Kyle Brown and Lindsay Gilchrist.
Colorado must respond to the federal government’s end of the enhanced premium tax credits by renewing a funding commitment for the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise. Without this support, hospitals across Colorado, strained by high levels of uncompensated care, will face greater financial pressure. Ensuring the HIAE remains fully funded is one of the most effective tools we have to stabilize our health‑care system and keep health coverage within reach.
-Senator Kyle Mullica
Federal shifts are putting new pressure on families who already struggle to afford care, and this economic impact will fall hardest on communities that have historically been left out of our healthcare system. I believe that health care is a human right, not a privilege, and preserving funding for the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise is essential. It’s one of the few tools that directly shields Colorado families from rising health costs and helps ensure that Colorado families don’t lose access to the coverage they rely on.”
-Senator Iman Jodeh
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise is a cornerstone of Colorado’s progress toward a more equitable health system. Sustaining this funding means more people can access preventive care, more communities can thrive, and more Coloradans can participate fully in school and work. This is about building a healthier future for the entire state.”
— Representative Kyle Brown
Affordable health coverage is one of the most important tools we can offer Colorado’s working families and small businesses. Continued funding for the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise helps keep premiums down and expands access to health care so people don’t have to choose between their health and their financial security.”
-Representative Lindsay Gilchrist
Media contacts:
Jackie Zubrzycki, VP of Communications, Colorado Children’s Campaign. Email: Jackie@ColoradoKids.org
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About the Colorado Children’s Campaign
At the Colorado Children’s Campaign, we use data and research to identify what kids across our state need most, then advocate for policies that strengthen their well-being and help them thrive. Our focus is the whole child, working across Early Childhood, K-12 Education, Health, and Economic Security for the greatest long-term impact.