DENVER – In a recent op-ed published by Colorado Politics, state Sen. Jim Smallwood calls attention to the fact that some politicians are choosing “to pursue unaffordable, disruptive health care policies Coloradans have already rejected.” He writes:

I am regrettably referring to HB24-1075, a bill to move our state further down the path to a complete takeover of Coloradans’ health care by politicians and bureaucrats in Denver. Those pushing for this redundant study of so-called “single payer” health insurance do so even though nearly eight in 10 Colorado voters overwhelmingly rejected this concept at the polls just a few years ago.

Leading up to that vote, an analysis by the nonpartisan Colorado Health Institute shed light on the unaffordable costs of such a system, revealing it would more than double the state’s budget, costing Coloradans nearly $65 billion yearly and running a nearly $8 billion annual deficit by 2028. It does not require another taxpayer funded study to understand the costs of this system would necessitate higher taxes beyond anything Coloradans could afford.

Not to mention we already have a case study for what a state government-controlled health insurance system looks like on a smaller scale, and it is nowhere near living up to what its supporters promised.

Three years ago, the legislature hastily passed legislation to establish the “Colorado Option.” This government-orchestrated plan design requirement was sold by many as a public health insurance plan that would provide a lower-cost option to Coloradans, increase health care affordability overall and strengthen the health insurance marketplace.

Many lawmakers, health care leaders and other stakeholders opposed the bill at that time, warning of the exact consequences Coloradans have seen since its implementation. As we predicted, not only has the Colorado Option failed to achieve its stated goals, it is also worsening the very problems its supporters said it would solve. 

The law created new rate-setting mandates in 2021 that required health insurance companies to lower rates by 5% in the first year, 10% in the second year and 15% in the third year. Unsurprisingly, the arbitrary, state-designed price mandates didn’t work.

Three years later, premiums have not gone down. On the contrary, they have gone up. 

“The Colorado Option has shown a one-size-fits-all, government-controlled insurance system simply does not work,” Smallwood adds. “Coloradans deserve a health care system that ensures access to high-quality care, affordability and the patient’s choice of payers. I urge my colleagues in the state Senate to join me in rejecting this so-called ‘single payer study’ bill and instead pursuing sensible, bipartisan solutions to make real health care a reality for every Coloradan.”

To read Sen. Smallwood’s full op-ed at Colorado Politics, click here.