politics
March 16, 2026
Cost of Colorado Medicaid initiative for immigrant families 600% higher
Colorado estimates its Medicaid initiative for immigrant families has surpassed the estimated program costs by over 600%, compared to the state legislature’s fiscal analysts.

TL;DR
- Colorado's 'Cover All Coloradans' program is estimated to cost over 600% more than initially projected.
- The program, effective January 2025, offers health benefits to children and pregnant women ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status.
- Enrollment has surged to nearly 28,000 immigrants, far exceeding the initial estimate of 3,700.
- The estimated cost for the next fiscal year is $127.4 million, compared to the initial $14.7 million projection.
- This increase occurs while Colorado faces an estimated budget deficit of $850 million to $1 billion.
- Republicans are proposing to cut the program, but Democrats, who control both legislative chambers, are unlikely to agree.
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