Soon, There Will be No Colorado Option

August 23, 2023

Soon, There Will be No Colorado Option

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tony Gagliardi, Colorado State Director, tony.gagliardi@nfib.org, or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org DENVER, Aug. 23, 2023—The state’s leading small-business association today posted a guest editorial on Colorado’s health care program, Colorado Option. In addition to guest editorials submitted to individual newspapers and online news sites for their exclusive consideration, NFIB Colorado on occasion will transmit an article for free use by any media or as use as background material for any related stories reporters might be working on. Click here to read the editorial. Excerpt

“NFIB-member small business owners have been resolutely opposed to single-payer health care, which is what the public option is by incremental means. This is an issue small business owners know better than anyone. For 40 years, NFIB members have cited the rising cost of health insurance as their number one concern. Small business owners do not benefit from, nor do they support, a one-size-fits-all. They support solutions that empower them and their employees with greater choice and control and access to affordable, flexible, and predictable health coverage options.

“Private carriers, I warned, would reach a time when their ability to compete with the Colorado Option would become impossible.

“So, what has happened to the insurance market for small-business-owning individuals and small business groups since Gov. Jared Polis signed HB21-1232 into law a little over two years ago? Four health insurers (Humana, Bright Health, Oscar Health, and Friday Health Plans) have called it quits in Colorado.”

Keep up with the latest Colorado small-business news at www.nfib.com/colorado or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_CO or on Facebook @NFIB.CO ### For 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since its founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com. NFIB Colorado 1700 Lincoln Street, 17th Floor Denver, CO 80203 303-860-1778 www.nfib.com/colorado Twitter: @NFIB_CO Facebook: NFIB.CO

Topics:

Healthcare

State:

Colorado

Get to know NFIB

NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.

Learn More

Group of professionals at a dinner meeting around a long table in a rustic restaurant; a man in a blue blazer speaks.

July 29, 2026

Main Street Texans Announce Strong Support for Governor Abbott’s Plan to Lower Cost of Health Insurance

Governor’s plan mirrors an NFIB-backed legislative effort to give small business owners greater access to affordable health insurance

July 29, 2026

Small Businesses Support Healthcare Flexibility

NFIB sent a letter to Congress in support of new healthcare legislation to expand Health Savings Accounts and give small businesses the flexibility and afforda…