Thousands in Colorado to lose health insurance under Trump bill

Colorado officials estimate that up to 110,000 people on the individual health insurance exchange will lose coverage with the passage of Trump's "big, beautiful bill" and the expected expiration of additional tax credits.

Why it matters: If health insurance becomes unaffordable, it creates a cascading effect that increases the premiums for those who remain insured, thereby affecting the entire market, even those with employer-provided coverage.

State of play: Colorado projects federal policy changes will lead to a $105 million cut in federal subsidies for the 321,000 people on the state's health insurance exchange, known as Connect for Health Colorado, state officials say.

• Insurers are requesting an average 28% premium hike for next year. For those who had receive subsidies, plans are expected to increase 104%.

Between the lines: In addition to the 110,000 who expect to drop their insurance, the state anticipates that 377,000 people will lose their Medicaid coverage due to work requirements and eligibility constraints.

Zoom in: The Republican-drafted H.R. 1 increases the maximum out-of-pocket expenses, shortens the enrollment period and denies coverage for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

• Most notably, the law will lead to an 80% reduction in the OmniSalud program, which currently provides health insurance to 12,000 people living in the country illegally.

What they're saying: "This is going to reverberate through our entire health care ecosystem, and it's going to be an incredible challenge for us moving forward unless we take steps to stop it," Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway recently told state lawmakers.

The other side: Republican state lawmakers are embracing Trump's spending bill and blaming Democrats for overspending.

• "Republicans are focused on restoring fiscal responsibility and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent effectively for the families, seniors, and workers who depend on them," House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese (R-Colorado Springs) said in a statement.

What we're watching: The Legislature is expected to address the issue when it returns to the state Capitol later this month for a special session or next year during the regular term.

• House Speaker Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) said she is "heart-sick" about the skyrocketing costs of health insurance.
• "Now is the moment for us to be as creative, imaginative — to think differently, outside the box, to start over — with what we do with health care in the state," McCluskie said.