RR Kinter

Medicaid Has Spun Out of Control: New Study Exposes Soaring Costs in Colorado Colorado’s state Medicaid program has officially spun out of control because of Democratic mismanagement, offering far more coverage than typical private insurance while draining state funds and expanding coverage to non-citizens. A new study by the Common Sense Institute reveals how out-of-hand the program has become: More Coverage Than Private Insurance: Health First Colorado covers up to 80 of 88 service categories—outpacing individual marketplace plans (65) and employer-sponsored options (62) with non-standard benefits like equine therapy, massage therapy, and non-emergency transport. Expanding Eligibility & Rising Costs: Added spending from state legislative changes and expanded eligibility programs—including state-funded coverage expansion for illegal aliens—have fueled massive budget growth. These policies incentivize further illegal immigration while adding hundreds of millions in ongoing state costs. Crowding Out Public Priorities: Medicaid spending has now overtaken K-12 education as the largest line item in Colorado's budget, forcing recent funding cuts to schools ($82M) and agriculture ($2M). Unchecked Growth & Abuse: Over two decades, state Medicaid enrollment reached 1.3 million while administrative staffing tripled. The program's expansion has also coincided with high-profile fraud cases and tens of millions in improper billing. With Colorado spending a larger share of its state budget on Medicaid than nearly any other state in the nation, lawmakers face pressure to cut nonessential benefits and restore fiscal discipline. denvergazette.com/2026/10/26…