Democratic state lawmakers proclaimed victory for health care consumers Tuesday, the first day several health care laws passed earlier this year took effect.
In a news conference on the state Capitol’s west steps, the lawmakers highlighted bills requiring medical insurance companies to get state approval before raising premiums and three other bills they said will improve access to medical treatment for the poor and elderly and those living in rural areas. They were among the approximately 50 bills dealing with health care that the legislature passed this year, lawmakers said.
Rep. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, said the bills will help close the gap between those who are insured and those who aren’t.
“We have made more historic gains arguably this year than we have in decades in closing that gap,” Carroll said. “And a gap isn’t just a gap. It’s real human beings, and that’s a lot of human beings who will be receiving health care who might have otherwise fallen through the gap.”
But House Assistant Minority Leader David Balmer said the Democrats’ plans likely will backfire. The added regulatory hurdles for insurance companies, he said, will likely result in higher health care costs across Colorado.
“The Democrats think that they are helping consumers when they pass laws to impose new regulations on insurance companies,” Balmer, R-Centennial, said. “In reality all they’re doing is dramatically increasing the cost of insurance for all Coloradans. More government regulations on insurance companies will not help provide better health care.”
Carroll and other Democrats vowed to continue pushing their piece-by-piece health care agenda in next year’s legislative session, looking for more ways to trim costs and extend coverage.
“We can’t do it all at one time,” said Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley.
John Ingold: 303-954-1068 or jingold@denverpost.com
