Colorado Republicans Challenge Polis Over Medicaid Funding for Immigrants

Federal Funds at Risk in Immigration Healthcare Dispute

A trio of Colorado Republican representatives are pressing Governor **Jared Polis** to cease state-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants. This action could cost the state millions in federal funding and impacts access to care for over 400,000 Coloradans. The situation highlights a deepening divide over healthcare funding priorities and immigration policy within the state.

The Republican Push

Three U.S. House Republicans are now urging **Governor Polis** to reconsider providing health benefits to undocumented immigrants using state Medicaid funds. Their letter, delivered on Thursday, was signed by **Gabe Evans**, **Lauren Boebert**, and **Jeff Crank**. They express concern about prioritizing benefits for those in the country unlawfully over citizens, particularly those with disabilities, single mothers, children, and seniors. The group advocates for altering existing laws to favor U.S. citizens in healthcare and related benefits.

The Governor’s Response

**Shelby Wieman**, **Polis’s** press secretary, countered that the lawmakers seek to divert attention from their votes on a Republican budget proposal. This budget might jeopardize health coverage for many Coloradans and lead to higher insurance expenses for all. **Wieman** underscored the Governor’s call for a fresh Senate approach to Medicaid, protecting it while extending essential subsidies for those using the health exchange to ensure access to affordable healthcare.

Federal Funding Implications

The lawmakers referenced a provision within the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.” This bill could penalize states allocating state funds for healthcare coverage to immigrants ineligible for federal programs. These “sanctuary states” face a drop in federal matching funds for expanded Medicaid, decreasing from 90% to 80% beginning in 2027. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates Colorado could lose nearly $2.3 billion from 2028 to 2034 under this scenario. The state could face significant budget troubles if it maintains this policy, the Republicans cautioned.

Three Colorado Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives are urging Gov. Polis to end state spending on health care coverage for undocumented immigrants — or risk losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. https://t.co/3jR9K88y5c

— Colorado Politics (@COPolitics) May 22, 2024

“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,”

—Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert, and Jeff Crank, Letter to Governor **Polis**

Colorado currently spends state funds to cover certain immigrants, despite their ineligibility for federal healthcare funding. The OmniSalud program offers subsidies for private insurance. Cover All Coloradans provides Medicaid-like coverage to roughly 13,000 children and 5,000 pregnant women, irrespective of their immigration status. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, in 2023, roughly 21% of the U.S. population received healthcare through Medicaid or CHIP, highlighting the program’s broad impact (KFF, 2023).

Divergent Views

**Jeff Hurd**, Colorado’s fourth Republican U.S. House member, didn’t sign the letter, yet believes that Medicaid funds should aid vulnerable populations. A spokesperson for **Hurd** stated that Medicaid funding should be reserved for those the program was initially created to protect, including pregnant women, children, and the disabled. **Hurd** looks forward to collaborating with state legislators to ensure Colorado aligns with the federal government on these goals.