In Colorado, we pride ourselves on working across the aisle when the well-being of our communities is on the line. As current and former county commissioners—one Republican and one Democrat—we don’t always agree on policy. But when it comes to the so-called “big beautiful bill,” we see eye to eye: this legislation threatens the health, stability, and futures of Coloradans across the political spectrum.
This federal budget reconciliation bill would have deeply harmful consequences that would be anything but beautiful for Coloradans who are working hard to care for themselves and their families. By gutting key provisions that make health care affordable, adding red tape to safety-net programs, and stripping away critical supports and services, the bill would make life harder and more stressful for thousands of Colorado families. This is a health emergency in the making.
Here’s what’s at stake:
For one, the bill allows enhanced premium tax credits for ACA insurance plans to lapse, effectively driving people out of the ACA marketplaces and increasing premiums for millions of Americans who rely on them. According to Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s health insurance marketplace, more than 112,000 Coloradans could lose their health coverage if this bill becomes law. The loss of enhanced premium tax credits could strip away up to $620 million in subsidies from Colorado households. In some cases, Coloradans could see their premiums double.
The bill doesn’t stop at ACA coverage. It also makes major cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, lifelines for thousands of Colorado families. Proposals include burdensome work requirements that could result in millions losing their Medicaid coverage, not because they’re unwilling to work, but because they can’t navigate a complicated bureaucracy or don’t meet narrowly defined criteria. Meanwhile, work requirements would force the state to spend even more on administrative oversight to verify recipients’ eligibility. These cuts and unnecessary red tape would be devastating for people with health conditions, jeopardizing access to life-saving health care, medications, and crisis services.
Meanwhile, cuts to SNAP, our most effective anti-hunger program, would increase food insecurity and household stress. These cuts will also be devastating to the local rural grocery stores that provide employment as well as community support. These draconian policies are being pushed forward in order to fund massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. It’s a corrupt trade-off: taking health care and food assistance away from those in need to provide even more for those who already have the most.
For anyone who’s ever worried about affording health insurance, particularly those managing a chronic illness or navigating a mental health crisis, this is more than a budget line item. It’s a cause for panic.
Colorado is already grappling with a full-blown mental health crisis that has left far too many of our at-risk neighbors without the support they need. This makes cuts to health coverage all the more dangerous. Rural communities are especially vulnerable. Mental health providers are already scarce, and resources are limited. If more of our residents lose coverage, we won’t just see rising ER visits. We’ll see growing despair and worsening outcomes. We’ve seen it before, and we know who pays the price: kids, people with disabilities, and families already under stress.
We might come from different sides of the political spectrum, but as Coloradans, we agree on a shared set of values. We believe in fiscal responsibility. We believe in strong communities. And we believe that public policy should help people, not punish them. There’s nothing “beautiful” about a bill that strips away stability and increases suffering.
This is a moment that demands unity, not division. We urge our local leaders, health professionals, advocates, and residents across Colorado to raise their voices and oppose this bill. Let your representatives in Congress know that Coloradans won’t stand by while our health and dignity are put on the chopping block.
Emma Pinter is an Adams County Commissioner and Wendy Buxton-Andrade is a former Prowers County commissioner.