Government shutdown and ACA
Dear Rep. Boebert and Sen. Hickenlooper,
As a resident of Highlands Ranch, I’m urging you to make the extension of ACA subsidies a core condition in any agreement to reopen the government. The recent Medicaid cuts have already stripped vital coverage from vulnerable Coloradans—especially seniors, disabled adults, and working families. Without enhanced ACA subsidies, we risk compounding that harm and leaving thousands without affordable alternatives.
This isn’t about expanding bureaucracy. It’s about preserving what little support remains. ACA subsidies help stabilize the private insurance market, protect rural hospitals from uncompensated care, and give small businesses and self-employed workers a fighting chance to stay covered. Letting them expire would spike premiums and deepen the coverage gap.
I understand you approach healthcare from different perspectives, but I believe you both care about protecting Colorado families. Whether through fiscal discipline or equity-driven policy, we must act to prevent further damage to our healthcare infrastructure.
Please work together to ensure that healthcare protections are not sacrificed in budget negotiations. Reopening the government should also mean reopening access to care.
Thank you for your service and commitment to our state.
Sincerely,
Marc Miller
Highlands Ranch, CO 80130
October 16, 2025
Dear Mr. Miller,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding the government shutdown. We always appreciate hearing from Coloradans, as it helps us better represent our great state in the United States Senate.
On October 1st, the federal government shut down. No one wanted this to happen — especially me. I supported the funding bill that would have addressed health care costs and kept the government open, but because Republicans refused to work with us, it didn’t pass.
Without an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, health care costs in Colorado are expected to increase an average of 28% in 2026. Nationwide, 20 million Americans would be at risk of having their healthcare premiums more than double. Four million could even lose their coverage altogether. Americans already pay too much for health care and this increase would devastate families across the country.
With that in mind, we won’t support a government funding bill that does nothing to protect American’s health care and lower prices. We were proud to vote for a Continuing Resolution to fund the government and reverse these damaging health care cuts. Unfortunately, Republicans stood in the way of that legislation. We will continue to oppose any funding packages that do not address rising prices — especially health care.
We always value hearing directly from Coloradans and hope you will continue to share your thoughts as we work together for Colorado and our country. For more information about our priorities, please visit our website at www.hickenlooper.senate.gov. Again, thank you for reaching out.Sincerely,
John Hickenlooper
United States Senator