Starting January 1, 2025, a new law in Colorado will provide health coverage to children and pregnant women, regardless of their immigration status. The program, called “Cover All Coloradans,” will offer Medicaid for prenatal and postpartum care, as well as physical, dental, vision, and mental health care for children.
Organizations helping immigrants are working to enroll families now and to ease any concerns about sharing information with the government.
At a food distribution event in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, Denver Health is offering care through a mobile clinic. ReVision, a nonprofit trusted by many newcomers, is assisting with the effort. Denver Health Program Manager Bryan Rodriguez mentioned that they are working to address concerns about the impact of the new administration that will take office in January.
Francis and Keyli, two friends from Honduras who recently immigrated, are looking forward to using Medicaid. Francis shared her relief in Spanish, explaining that she currently has an unpaid medical bill she can’t afford. Keyli, who is expecting her second child next year, plans to sign up and encourages others to do the same. She reassures other immigrants not to be afraid.
Rodriguez emphasized that Colorado state laws protect the privacy of people applying for these benefits. The state also assures that receiving these benefits won’t affect a person’s immigration status or cause problems under the “public charge” rule, which could prevent someone from entering the U.S. if they are likely to rely on certain government assistance in the future.
Francis hopes that her children, and Keyli’s, will have better opportunities than she did. “We don’t want them to suffer what we once went through,” she said.
The “Cover All Coloradans” program was first enacted in 2022 and was designed to help immigrants, especially as Denver began receiving many immigrants from the southern border. However, not everyone agrees with the new law. Representative Matt Soper, a Republican, opposed it and is concerned about how the state will pay for it, especially as Colorado faces a billion-dollar budget shortfall. He believes the state should prioritize services for citizens.
Despite opposition, Colorado is joining other states in offering health coverage to all eligible children, no matter their immigration status. Rodriguez believes that enrolling children in the program will help them get necessary services and also support hospitals financially.
When the program was first introduced in 2022, it was expected to cover 3,677 people at a cost of $34 million. The 2025 estimate is that it will cover 15,049 people and cost $51 million, with $39 million coming from Colorado’s General Fund. The cost has already been included in next year’s proposed budget.