DENVER, Colo. – While much of the health care community has been left out of the ongoing conversations to develop a new bill – let alone any recent analysis or actuarial estimates – and “despite the bill sponsors’ claims developing a ‘new’ state government option bill, a draft bill released yesterday only offers more of the same from last year’s failed public option bill,” said Colorado’s Health Care Future spokesperson, Tyler Mounsey. “It is disappointing that lawmakers are willing to check-the-box instead of providing answers to important questions about the impacts of the bill and respond to concerns raised by vested stakeholders.”

The 2021 bill is the same as what was proposed in 2020, with the only difference being that sponsors are proposing a two-year timeframe for the health care community to meet the financially unattainable cost-cutting measures. No matter what the timeframe, the state government option would put politicians in control of Coloradans’ health care, could increase costs for Coloradans, and hurt patients’ access to quality care, services, and coverage choices.

Following the recent developments of a draft state government option bill, Colorado’s Health Care Future announced it will launch a new television advertisement today that will run through the spring to raise awareness about the higher costs and negative consequences that creating the state government option could have for Coloradans. The ad, titled “Cost,” is part of a six-figure statewide education effort that will air on major broadcast and cable television networks across Colorado.

To Watch The Ad “Cost” Click Here Or On The Screenshot Above

The new ad, “Cost,” highlights how the proposed state government option gives politicians greater control over health care and creates a one-size-fits-all new government health insurance system Coloradans can’t afford. Under the state government option, Coloradans could pay more and face decreased access to quality health care.

Continued Mounsey, “During this critical time, Coloradans deserve proven solutions that provide access to affordable, high-quality health coverage and care. We should build on and improve what’s working where private coverage, Medicare and Medicaid work together – not start over by creating a one-size-fits-all new government health insurance system.”