Starting January 1, Colorado Democrats will launch a new law that offers free Medicaid coverage to undocumented migrants who are pregnant, as well as to migrant children. The “Cover All Coloradans” program will offer a range of health services, with an estimated cost of up to $51 million to taxpayers.
Governor Jared Polis’ administration is collaborating with immigrant advocacy groups to inform eligible migrants about the program, assuring them that their personal information will remain confidential. Bryan Rodriguez, Denver Health Program Manager, said, “Based on current Colorado state laws they protect the privacy of the clients that are applying for these public benefits.”
However, many state Republicans are concerned about the program’s costs, which they believe will exceed initial estimates.
Republican State Representative Soper said, “We as Coloradans and lawmakers are going to have to deal with how we pay for this. The cost is going to be fourfold what we anticipated two years ago,” adding that many citizens are actually seeing their benefits cut due to budget limitations.
Soper added, “We shouldn’t be giving programs and services to undocumented immigrants that we aren’t giving to citizens who are within Colorado.”
They argue that taxpayer-funded benefits should not be extended to undocumented immigrants when citizens are experiencing cuts to their own benefits.
Nationally, the financial burden of providing medical care to undocumented migrants is significant, with a recent report estimating that the Biden administration’s border policies are costing the U.S. approximately $451 billion annually, much of which goes toward healthcare for undocumented individuals.
