By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics
Three Republican members of Colorado’s delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives are urging Gov. Jared Polis to work with legislators to end state spending on health care coverage for undocumented immigrants — or risk losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
“We write to you expressing grave concerns over Colorado’s continued policy of covering illegal immigrants with state Medicaid funds — prioritizing benefits for those unlawfully present in our country over citizens who need it the most: individuals with disabilities, single mothers, children, and seniors,” U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans wrote in a letter delivered to the Democratic governor on Thursday. The letter was also signed by U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Jeff Crank.
“We ask that you join us in protecting Medicaid and work with the State Legislature to overturn existing laws and programs that prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens with the provision of free or subsidized health care or other benefits,” Evans and his co-signers added.
In response, a spokeswoman for Polis told Colorado Politics that Evans and his colleagues were trying to “distract” from their votes on a Republican budget plan a study cited by the governor’s office says could jeopardize health care coverage for more than 400,000 Coloradans while leading to higher health insurance costs for everyone.
The Republican lawmakers noted that the House-passed version of the GOP’s massive tax and spending bill — known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” — includes a provision to penalize states that spend state funds to cover immigrants who aren’t eligible for federal health care programs.
Under the bill, which is under consideration in the Senate, these so-called “sanctuary states” would see their share of federal matching funds to cover expanded Medicaid coverage drop from 90% to 80% starting in 2027. That could cost Colorado nearly $2.3 billion from 2028 to 2034, according to an estimate prepared by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a progressive-leaning nonpartisan policy center.
“As you know, this change would pose significant budgetary challenges to Colorado — but only if the state continues to pursue this policy,” Evans and his fellow Republicans wrote.
While undocumented immigrants don’t qualify for federally funded health care, Colorado and 13 other states and the District of Columbia spend state funds to provide coverage for some immigrants.
In Colorado, the OmniSalud program provides subsides to buy private insurance, and Cover All Coloradans, which resembles Medicaid, covers roughly 13,000 children and 5,000 pregnant women irrespective of their immigration status.
According to estimates, OmniSalud is expected to cost $20 million this year and Cover All Coloradans has a price tag of over $50 million.
“Each new dollar that we choose to invest in care for illegal immigrants is a dollar that could go to supporting long-term care for seniors or keeping our rural hospitals open,” Evans, Boebert and Crank said in their letter.
Shelby Wieman, Polis’ press secretary, said in an emailed statement that Evans and the others are misguided.