MEDIA RELEASE
Oct 27, 2025
Consumer Advocates Blast New Skyrocketing Health Insurance Rates Caused by GOP’s Big Ugly Bill & Failure to Extend Tax Credits
Statewide net average premium to increase by 101%; direct result of Trump-led policies
DENVER – Today, the Colorado Department of Insurance announced new health insurance rates for 2026, and the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative blasted the GOP for its role in leading to the skyrocketing increases. For those who buy insurance on the individual market, they will see an average net premium increase of 101% this year as rates have increased and federal tax credits expire.
State legislators met for a special session in August, partly to address sky-high health insurance rates that are a direct result of Trump and the Congressional Republicans’ “Big, Ugly Bill.” By expanding state premium assistance and the reinsurance programs, state legislators were able to lower proposed health insurance rates with HB25B-1006. This did not compensate for Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend the enhanced premium tax credits by November 1, which are crucial for affordability for tens of thousands of Coloradans.
The Colorado Consumer Health Initiative condemned the GOP, including Congressmen Jeff Hurd and Gabe Evans, whose districts are particularly impacted, for passing Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill. That legislation makes devastating cuts to Medicaid and makes changes to the Affordable Care Act that make plans lower value, higher cost, and more difficult to enroll in. This is all to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy, leading insurers to raise rates on individuals, families, and small businesses.
As part of H.R. 1, Republicans in Congress counted on the enhanced premium tax credits expiring at the end of this year as part of the “savings” of the bill. The loss of these credits will strip affordable health coverage from millions of Americans and approximately 80,000 Coloradans this coming year.
“It’s clear why premiums are skyrocketing and why Coloradans will be shocked when they go shopping for insurance this Open Enrollment,” said Mannat Singh, Executive Director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. “Trump and Congressional Republicans have gutted healthcare coverage for families and small businesses that need it, so that they can fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations. This is what they set out to do, and all of Colorado’s GOP Congresspeople voted for it. They knew this devastation was coming and have failed to protect Coloradans from massive increases in insurance premiums. Congress needs to take action now to extend enhanced premium tax credits. With 80,000-100,000 Coloradans expected to lose coverage, our state needs to do more to protect Coloradans from spiking health insurance and care costs.”
Open enrollment for 2025 individual health insurance starts November 1 and lasts until January 15, 2026. Coloradans should go to ConnectForHealthCO.com to find out more. Free enrollment assistance is available for Coloradans.
Colorado Consumer Health Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit, membership-based group advocating for equitable access to high-quality, affordable health care. CCHI serves Coloradans whose access to health care and financial security are compromised by structural barriers, affordability, poor benefits, or unfair business practices of the health care industry.
###