¶ Overview
- Crank voted for a bill that would kick 17 million Americans off their health insurance, including nearly 12 million Americans off Medicaid. As a result of his vote, more than 23,000 of his own constituents were at risk of losing their health coverage. Crank ultimately called the bill a “win for the American people.”
- Crank also opposed extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits because he believed they were a “band-aid on a gaping wound.” He voted three times against extending the tax credits that helped Coloradans afford health insurance. As a result of Crank’s votes, Coloradans who relied on the ACA for health coverage faced steeppremium increases.
¶ Crank Voted To Rip Health Coverage From Thousands Of Coloradans
¶ crank voted for House Republicans’ budget bill, which would kick 17 million people off their health Coverage
¶ July 2025: Crank Voted For The Final Version Of The Republican Reconciliation Bill
July 2025: Crank Voted For The Senate FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Extended $4 Trillion In Expiring Tax Cuts, Added New Tax Breaks, Appropriated $448 Billion In Defense, Border, And Immigration Enforcement Funding, Increased The SALT Deduction To $40,000, And Cut Medicaid And Other Social Programs To Offset The Costs. In July 2025, Crank voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to concur in the Senate amendment to the bill that would permanently extend nearly $4 trillion in expiring individual and business tax cuts, create several new tax breaks and fund border and immigration enforcement and air traffic control upgrades. It would cut Medicaid and other safety net programs to partly offset the cost. Among other provisions, it would raise the statutory debt ceiling by $5 trillion and appropriate more than $448 billion in mandatory funding for Trump administration priorities and other needs, including $153 billion for defense, $89 billion for immigration enforcement, and $89.5 billion for border control and security. It also would increase the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 annually for five years for households making up to $500,000 a year until 2030, when it would permanently revert to $10,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 218 to 214. [House Vote 190, 7/3/25; Congressional Quarterly, 7/3/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
- HEADLINE: “Medicaid Cuts In Trump’s 'Big Beautiful Bill' Could Cripple Some Of Arizona’s Rural Hospitals” [Tucson Sentinel, 7/2/25]
- HEADLINE: "At Least 17 Million Americans Would Lose Insurance Under Trump Plan" [Washington Post, 7/1/25]
- The Congressional Budget Office Estimated That 11.8 Million People Would Become Uninsured As A Result Of The Medicaid Cuts In Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill. According to the Washington Post, "The bill, which narrowly passed the Senate on Tuesday and now heads back to the House, would effectively accomplish what Republicans have long failed to do: unwind many of the key components of the ACA, President Barack Obama’s signature domestic achievement, which dramatically increased the number of Americans with access to health insurance. To start, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Senate version of the bill would result in 11.8 million more uninsured in 2034, mostly because of Medicaid cuts, compared with 10.9 million if the House version became law." [Washington Post, 7/1/25]
¶ May 2025: Crank Voted For House Republicans’ Budget Bill
May 2025: Crank Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Reconciliation Bill That Included $3.8 Trillion In Tax Cuts Offset By $1.5 Trillion In Spending Reductions To Programs Like Medicaid And The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In May 2025, Crank voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would provide for approximately $3.8 trillion in net tax cuts and $321 billion in military, border enforcement and judiciary spending, offset by $1.5 trillion in spending reductions, as instructed in the fiscal 2025 budget resolution (H Con Res 14). It would raise the statutory debt limit by $4 trillion and provide for increased spending on defense and border security, spending cuts on social safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It also includes a mix of tax breaks for businesses and individuals; tax increases on universities and foundations; and a phase-down of clean energy tax credits. […] It would reduce federal spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by requiring states to shoulder more of the cost, expand work requirements for SNAP, extend programs authorized under the 2018 farm bill, and prohibit the U.S. Department of Agriculture from increasing the cost of the Thrifty Food Program. As amended, it would cap state and local tax deductions at $40,000 for households with incomes below $500,000.” The House passed the bill by a vote of 215 to 214. [House Vote 145, 5/22/25; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1]
- The House GOP Budget Bill Was Estimated To Increase The Uninsured Population By 8.6 Million By 2034. According to CNN, “The Medicaid and Affordable Care Act provisions in the package could result in 8.6 million more people being uninsured in 2034, according to an early CBO estimate released by Democratic lawmakers. That number is expected to grow with the latest changes.” [CNN, 5/28/25]
- The House GOP Budget Bill Codified A Trump Administration Proposal That Restricted Access To The Affordable Care Act. According to CNN, “The bill also calls for codifying a Trump administration proposal that would make changes to the Affordable Care Act enrollment process, including shortening the open enrollment period and eliminating the ability of low-income Americans to sign up year-round.” [CNN, 5/28/25]
- The House GOP Budget Bill Made The 2017 Income Tax Breaks Permanent And Added An Estimated $3.8 Trillion To The National Debt Over 10 Years. According to CNN, “The package includes several controversial measures that would deeply cut into two of the nation’s key safety net programs – Medicaid and food stamps – while making permanent essentially all of the trillions of dollars of individual income tax breaks contained in the GOP’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. What’s more, it would fulfill Trump’s campaign promises to cut taxes on tips and overtime, albeit temporarily. The magnitude of the measures is evident in the estimates of the cost they would incur or the savings they would produce. […] The tax changes in the package would add $3.8 trillion to the nation’s debt over a decade, according to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released before last-minute changes were made to the bill.” [CNN, 5/28/25]
¶ February 2025: Crank Voted To Pass The House Republican Reconciliation Budget Framework
February 2025: Crank Voted For The FY 2025 Budget Framework That Included $2 Trillion In Cuts, Raised The Statutory Debt Limit By $4 Trillion, And Required House Committees To Recommend Legislation That Would Implement Trump’s Agenda. In February 2025, Crank voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the concurrent resolution that would recommend a budget for fiscal 2025 and budget levels through fiscal 2034. The resolution would assume minimum savings of $1.5 trillion over 10 years and 2.6 percent economic growth over the same period. It also would require the statutory debt limit to be raised by $4 trillion. It also would authorize the House Ways and Means Committee to increase deficits by $4.5 trillion over 10 years to extend the 2017 tax cuts and implement new tax cuts proposed by the White House. It also would provide instructions for the budget reconciliation process through which separate legislation could be considered and passed in the Senate via a simple majority vote. The measure would deliver instructions to 11 House committees to report legislation that would implement President Donald Trump’s agenda, such as expanding tax cuts and bolstering border security and immigration enforcement. The committees would be required to report their legislative recommendations to the House Budget Committee by March 27, 2025. It also would set a $2 trillion target for the spending cuts to be submitted to the House Budget Committee. The resolution also would stipulate that if the committees don't reach that target, the Ways and Means’ reconciliation instructions to increase the deficit by a maximum of $4.5 trillion would be decreased by the amount the other committees come in below the target. Similarly, it would stipulate that Ways and Means could increase the deficit above the $4.5 trillion level by the amount of savings the committees achieve above the $2 trillion target.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the resolution by a vote of 217 to 215. [House Vote 50, 2/25/25; Congressional Quarterly, 2/25/25; Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res. 14]
- HEADLINE: "House Republican Budget Takes Away Health Care, Food Aid To Pay For Expanded Tax Cuts For Wealthy" [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2/21/25]
- New York Times Reported The $880 Billion In Cuts Required By The Republican Budget Proposal Would Have To Come From Medicaid, Medicare, Or CHIP. According to the New York Times, "The budget resolution itself is silent on whether Congress cuts Medicaid, which provides health coverage to 72 million poor and disabled Americans. But it instructs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the program, to cut spending by $880 billion over the next decade. If the committee can’t save at least that much, the entire effort could be imperiled because of the special process Congress is using to avoid a Senate filibuster. Ten other committees have their own instructions to follow, though none have been assigned with cutting nearly as much. It’s not so simple as finding the cuts elsewhere. The special process, known as budget reconciliation, means Republicans will have to find all $880 billion from within the Energy and Commerce Committee’s jurisdiction. That leaves them with fewer options than one might think. […] If Republicans want to avoid major cuts to Medicaid, the largest pot of available money is in the other big government health insurance program: Medicare. […] Even if the committee cuts everything that’s not health care to $0, it will still be more than $600 billion short. The committee could also save around $200 billion by eliminating the Children’s Health Insurance Program, but that option has not been raised by the budget committee or anyone in House leadership. […] Even if all of these cuts, revenues and rule cancellations from outside health care can pass muster, the committee will still be left with hundreds of billions of dollars to cut to hit its goal. Mathematically, the budget committee’s instructions mean the committee would need to make major cuts to either Medicare, Medicaid or both." [New York Times, 2/25/25]
¶ Crank Called The Big Beautiful Bill A “Win For The American People”
Crank Claimed The Final Passage Of The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Was A “Win For The American People.” According to a press release from Rep. Jeff Crank, "Today, Rep. Jeff Crank (CO-05) voted to send the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act to President Trump's desk for its signature into law. The One Big, Beautiful Bill, some of the most conservative legislation ever worked on in Congress, delivers the largest tax cut in American history, ensures no tax on tips or overtime, protects Medicaid for Americans who truly need it, secures our borders, and more. ‘Today was a win for the American people,’ said Rep. Crank. ‘The One Big Beautiful bill now heads to President Trump's desk. This bill will help further secure our borders, make the Trump Tax Cuts permanent, unleash American energy, and make our nation stronger than ever before.’" [Press Release – Rep. Jeff Crank, 7/3/25]
8/13/25: Crank Called The Big Beautiful Bill A “Good Bill.” According to the Aurora Sentinel, "‘The only people that will get thrown off of health care are the people who refuse to go to work 20 hours a week,’ GOP Rep. Jeff Crank said, calling the big, beautiful bill ‘a good bill’ that cuts taxes and should prompt the state to trim spending." [Aurora Sentinel, 8/13/25]
¶ Before Voting To Cut Medicaid, Crank Claimed People Were “Scaremongering” About Medicaid Cuts In Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill
March 2025: Crank Claimed People Were “Scaremongering” About Cuts To Medicaid And Denied There Would Be Cuts. According to Colorado Politics, "Crank pushed back against the notion that the resolution would eliminate Medicaid benefits during Wednesday’s event, saying that the budget proposal ‘creates efficiencies’ within Medicaid to ensure only those who qualify for the program receive its benefits. ‘There’s a lot of scaremongering going on by groups out there,’ Crank said. ‘It kind of angers me when I hear the folks that are out there saying that there are cuts to Medicaid.’" [Colorado Politics, 3/6/25]
Crank: “I Think There’s Groups Out There That Are Trying To Scare People, Frankly For Their Own Political Purposes, To Try And Scare People Into Believing That There’s Going To Be All These Massive Medicaid Cuts […] And That Hasn’t Been The Case, That’s Not The Intention Of Anybody Here, Is To Cut People Off Of Medicaid.” According to Fox 21 News, "Crank helped advance a budget plan that includes a $4.5 trillion tax cut that critics say benefits the wealthy, and that Democrats like Governor Jared Polis say lays the ground work to slash billions from Medicaid and SNAP. Congressman Crank said in an interview with FOX21 News that some of that kind of talk is scare tactics, in his opinion. ‘I think there’s groups out there that are trying to scare people, frankly for their own political purposes, to try and scare people into believing that there’s going to be all these massive Medicaid cuts,’ said Crank. ‘And that hasn’t been the case, that’s not the intention of anybody here, is to cut people off of Medicaid.’" [Fox 21 News, 3/4/25]
¶ crank’s vote threatened healthcare for thousands of coloradans in his district
¶ An Estimated 129,900 Coloradans In The Fifth Congressional District Relied On Medicaid Or CHIP For Health Insurance
2023: 129,900 Coloradans In The 5th Congressional District Were Enrolled In Medicaid Or CHIP. According to the Center for American Progress,
[Center for American Progress, 3/11/25]
¶ 23,616 Of Crank’s Constituents Were Estimated To Lose Health Coverage Following The Republicans’ Cuts
June 2025: The Joint Economic Committee Found That 23,616 Of Crank’s Constituents Were Estimated To Lose Health Insurance Coverage As A Result Of The Republicans’ Cuts.
[Joint Economic Committee Minority, June 2025]
¶ Crank Opposed Extending Critical Health Care Tax Credits That Helped Coloradans Afford Health Insurance
¶ crank opposed expanding Enhanced PREMIUM aca tax credits that helped coloradans afford health insurance
11/17/25: Crank Opposed Extending Enhanced Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits. According to the Colorado Times Recorder, “None of Colorado’s four Republican members of Congress has signed a petition, launched by House Democrats, to force a vote on extending the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, which would prevent tens of thousands of Coloradans from losing their health insurance. […] Crank has stated he isn’t open to extending the subsidies ‘in their current form’ because he thinks they subsidize higher-income families and would not support an extension without changes to the subsidies.” [Colorado Times Recorder, 11/17/25]
- Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Temporarily Expanded Eligibility For Lower Health Insurance Premiums To Americans On The Affordable Care Act Whose Income Exceeded 400 Percent Of The Federal Poverty Level. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, "Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (PTCs)—established under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and extended in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022—have temporarily expanded eligibility for lower health insurance premiums to Americans whose income exceeds 400% of the federal poverty level. The credits also reduce the maximum household contribution (resulting in larger subsidy amounts) at all eligible income levels through December 31, 2025." [Bipartisan Policy Center, 10/15/25]
- House Republicans Were Divided On Letting Premium Tax Credits Expire, With Conservatives Calling Them A “Handout” And Moderates Urging For Their Extension. According to Politico, "Conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee, for instance, have excoriated the enhanced premium tax credits as hand-outs for insurance companies. At the same time, leadership and the committee chairs also have to reckon with a vocal group of GOP moderates who see an extension of the Obamacare subsidies as central to their political survival in next year’s midterms." [Politico, 11/18/25]
12/18/25: Crank Opposed Extending The Enhanced ACA Tax Credits Because He Believed They Were A “Band-Aid On A Gaping Wound.” According to KKTV, "Colorado Republican Congressman Jeff Crank said more people need affordable healthcare, but healthcare subsidies aren’t necessarily the way to fix the problem. Crank said subsidies only affect around seven percent of Americans, and he would like to see a proposal on how to help 100% of Americans. When it comes to voting on extending subsidies, Crank said he needs more information on the proposal. He said he knows he will vote ‘no’ if there are no proposed changes to how the program currently runs. ‘We go to fix it in the right way, and so if this bill doesn’t have any changes or any fixes to the current system, I will not support that. I would like to see relief for everyone on healthcare, but we can’t just continue to put a band-aid on a gaping wound that is the healthcare system in America.’" [KKTV, 12/18/25]
¶ crank Voted Three Times Against Extending Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits For Three Years
Crank Was Not One Of The 17 Republicans Who Crossed The Partisan Aisle To Extend Enhanced Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits.. According to Colorado Pols, “In case you missed the news last week, 17 House Republicans crossed the aisle to vote with all Democrats on a measure that seeks to expand subsidies for the Affordable Care Act for three years. Among Colorado’s House delegation, Rep. Jeff ‘Bread Sandwich’ Hurd (R-Grand Junction) voted ‘YES’ along with all four Democrats; Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Windsor), Jeff Crank (R-Colo. Springs), and Gabe Evans (R-Ft. Lupton) voted ‘NO.’ […] The tally, 230 to 196, highlighted the tenuous grip Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has over his restive GOP conference.” [Colorado Pols, 1/12/26]
1/8/26: Crank Voted Against Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credits For Three Years. In January 2026, Crank voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill, as amended, that would extend for three years, through the end of calendar year 2028, the enhanced tax credits to subsidize premiums for health insurance purchased on the Affordable Health Care Act health insurance markets. It would allow taxpayers whose household income exceeds 400 percent of the federal poverty line to receive tax credits for three more years. The measure would retroactively take effect Jan. 1, 2026.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 230 to 196. [House Vote 11, 1/8/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/8/26; Congressional Actions. H.R. 1834]
- 17 Republicans Voted For Passage Of The “Clean” Extension, Following A Procedural Vote The Day Before That Had Support From Nine Republicans. According to Politico, “Seventeen Republicans joined Democrats in passing legislation Thursday that would revive enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies for three years, rebuffing opposition from GOP leadership. The 230-196 vote follows a procedural vote Wednesday to advance the bill, where nine Republicans joined Democrats in favor of moving forward.” [Politico, 1/8/26]
- Speaker Johnson Called The Bill “Really Bad Policy” And Said He Wished That Not Everyone Had A Vote. According to Politico, “Johnson’s office, in a last-ditch effort Thursday morning to undermine the effort, blasted out a memo accusing ‘Democrats [of] want[ing] to expand a COVID subsidy system already flagged for massive fraud and abuse, with absolutely zero reforms.’ After the vote Thursday evening, Johnson said in an interview of the Republicans who defected, ‘I think it’s a really bad policy, and I wish they hadn’t, but everybody had a vote.’” [Politico, 1/8/26]
1/8/26: Crank Effectively Voted Against Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credits. In January 2026, Crank voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “adoption of the rule (H Res 780) providing for consideration of the bill (HR 1834). It would consider as adopted the McGovern, D-Mass., substitute amendment that would extend, through 2028, the enhanced tax credits to subsidize premiums for health insurance purchased on the Affordable Health Care Act health insurance markets. The rule would direct the clerk to transmit to the Senate a message that the House has passed HR 1834 no later than one calendar day after passage.” The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 224 to 202. [House Vote 10, 1/8/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/8/26; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 780; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1834]
1/7/26: Crank Effectively Voted Against Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credit. In January 2026, Crank voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “motion to discharge from the House Rules Committee the rule (H Res 780) providing for consideration of the anticipated ACA tax credit extension vehicle (HR 1834).” The vote was on the motion to discharge the rule. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 221 to 205. [House Vote 4, 1/7/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/7/26; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 780; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1834]
¶ Crank Did Not Sign Discharge Petitions Aimed At Extending Premium ACA Tax Credits
Crank Was Not One Of The Republican Signers On A Discharge Petition Led By House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Discharge Petition No. 10, 11/12/25]
- House Minority Leader Jeffries’ Discharge Petition Sought To Extend ACA Premium Tax Credits For Three Years. According to Politico Pulse, "House Democrats could move as soon as tomorrow to force a vote on extending the expired Obamacare subsidies for three years, Meredith Lee Hill reports. This measure follows last month’s major setback for Speaker Mike Johnson, when four House Republicans broke from the party to support a discharge petition backed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to hold a vote." [Politico Pulse, 1/6/26]
Crank Was Not One Of The Republican Signers On A Discharge Petition Led By Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.
[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Discharge Petition No. 12, 12/10/25]
- December 2025: Fitzpatrick Filed A Discharge Petition Aimed At Extending ACA Premium Tax Credits For Two Years. According to a press release from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, "Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) released the following statement after filing a discharge petition to bring his Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act directly to the House floor for a vote, ensuring Congress takes action to prevent devastating health insurance premium increases when current protections expire at the end of the year: ‘Congress cannot sit idle while American families face a preventable crisis. Our job is to protect the people we serve, and that responsibility demands immediate action. […] Key Provisions of the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act The legislation advances five reforms designed to protect affordability, strengthen accountability, and ensure taxpayer value: Prevents premium spikes: Extends enhanced premium tax credits through 2027, to protect families from abrupt monthly cost increases. Restores Consumer Control: Stops unauthorized plan and subsidy changes by requiring consent and prompt notification before any modifications take effect. Shines Light on Middlemen: Ends hidden spread pricing, severs PBM profits from drug prices, and requires full rebate pass-through to ensure savings reach patients. Gives Families New Tools to Manage Costs: Expands access to Health Savings Accounts and simplifies premium payments to reduce disruptions in coverage. Smart Stewardship of Taxpayer Dollars: Modernizes eligibility and introduces a reasonable minimum contribution to protect long-term affordability and responsible stewardship of federal dollars." [Press Release – Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, 12/10/25]
Crank Was Not One Of The Republican Signers On A Discharge Petition Led By Rep. Josh Gottheimer.
[Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, Discharge Petition No. 13, 12/10/25]
- December 2025: Gottheimer Filed A Discharge Petition Aimed At Extending ACA Premium Tax Credits For Two Years. According to a press release from Rep. Josh Gottheimer, "Today, December 11, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement: ‘In less than three weeks, unless Congress acts now, Affordable Care Act tax credits will expire, and health insurance premiums will shoot up 175% — or $20,000 a year — for families in Jersey. This week, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans and I, with 36 of our Democratic and Republican colleagues, introduced new bipartisan legislation that includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium tax cuts for American families. It’s a commonsense proposal that will keep costs down and prevent families’ premiums from skyrocketing in January. But, the Speaker of the House is refusing to bring our legislation to the floor for a vote. So, our bipartisan group just launched a discharge petition to force an immediate vote in the House. We must get this done now. We must find common ground and lower health insurance premiums. Time is running out for families.’" [Press Release – Rep. Josh Gottheimer, 12/11/25]
¶ Coloradans who relied on aca health insurance plans faced steep premium increases as a result of crank’s votes
HEADLINE: "Even With A Colorado Marketplace Insurance Plan, Health Care Is Still Too Expensive For Many" [Colorado Public Radio, 2/6/26]
Colorado Division Of Insurance Said Premiums Would Increase 101 Percent In 2026 For ACA Marketplace Plans Because Of The Expiration Of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. According to a press release from the Colorado Division of Insurance, "The Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI), part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), today released the final approved premium information on private health insurance plans for 2026 for the individual market (for people who don’t get coverage from an employer plan). These filings have been reviewed and updated to reflect the passage of HB25B-1006, which blunted some of the premium increases. The vast majority of consumers enrolled in Colorado’s individual marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, will see a statewide approximate net average premium increase of 101%, meaning a doubling of their premium costs. The DOI estimates these premium increases will lead to approximately 75,000 Coloradans losing access to health coverage. These premium increases reflect the failure of Congressional Republicans to extend the enhanced premium tax credits in time for Open Enrollment. Federal enhanced premium tax credits (ePTCs) have lowered costs to Americans since 2021. The tax credits are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2025. Approximately 225,000 Coloradans depend on the tax credits to afford health coverage in the individual market. The loss of these tax credits represents the vast majority of the premium increases consumers will see as they shop around during open enrollment." [Press Release – Colorado Division of Insurance, 10/27/25]
- HEADLINE: "Health Insurance Premiums On Colorado’s Individual Marketplace To Double In 2026" [Colorado Newsline, 10/27/25]
Colorado Small Business Owner Said Her Husband Had to Go Without Health Insurance In 2026 Because The Premium Increased From $205 To $577 After Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expired. According to 9News, "Mercedes Von Pichl, a small business owner and mother of two, is one of those 5,200. She saw her health insurance premium more than double after tax credits expired, forcing her family to make difficult financial decisions. ‘It used to be $205 and now it’s $577, and we are covering one less person,’ Von Pichl said. She said her husband will go without health insurance this year to save money. ‘It’s not fair,’ Von Pichl said. ‘I want everybody to be able to have health insurance without it being like a, 'Choose between this or choose between this.' It should be a given as a human that we have insurance.’ Von Pichl also highlighted the financial strain on families navigating rising health care costs." [9News, 2/12/26]
2026 ACA Enrollment Declines Were Steeper For Coloradans Over The Age Of 55 And Coloradans In Rural Areas, Both Groups That Were Hit Harder By The Loss Of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits. According to the Colorado Sun, "Cancellations by people who purchased plans during open enrollment and then later dropped them also spiked. The 17,000 people in that group — many of whom had plans that auto-renewed — represented an 83% increase over last year, Patterson said. Enrollment among new customers dropped 24%, Connect for Health reported. And enrollment declines were steeper for people age 55 and older and for those in rural areas — 6% and 5%, respectively. Both of those groups were hit harder by the loss of subsidies. ‘It’s deeply troubling that a record number of people are canceling their plans because they simply can’t afford their monthly payments, or are being forced to choose between health care and basic necessities like housing and food,’ Patterson said in his statement." [Colorado Sun, 1/23/26]
¶ Crank’s Inaction Created A Dramatic “Subsidy Cliff”
The Expiration Of Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits Created A “Subsidy Cliff” Whereby If Households Earned Even $1 More Than A Specific Income Threshold They Could Lose All Eligibility For Assistance. According to CNBC, "For the first time in years, many Americans enrolled in a health insurance plan via the Affordable Care Act marketplace will need to keep a careful accounting of their annual income — or risk a hefty federal tax bill. Enhanced ACA subsidies lapsed at the end of 2025, leaving millions of households on the hook for higher insurance premiums. The lapse also reintroduced the so-called subsidy cliff, whereby households that earn even $1 more than a specific income threshold will lose all eligibility for subsidies, also known as premium tax credits. That income cutoff, which varies by family size, is $62,600 for a single person, $84,600 for a two-person household and $128,600 for a family of four in 2026, for example." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
- More Than Two Million Americans Had Incomes Near A “Subsidy Cliff.” According to CNBC, "More than 2 million people enrolled in an ACA marketplace plan have an income near the subsidy cliff. ACA enrollees also tend to have relatively volatile incomes, making it hard to predict their annual earnings, experts said." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
Households That Went Over The Income Limit Would Have To Pay Back Any Federal Assistance They Received For Premiums, Which Could Cost Thousands Of Dollars, When They Filed Their Taxes. According to CNBC, "Households over the limit would have to pay back any federal subsidies they received for premiums — potentially worth thousands of dollars — when they file taxes next year for 2026." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Exacerbated The Problem By Stripping Away Guardrails Capping The Amount Of Excess Subsidies Households Are Required To Repay. According to CNBC, "The potential financial impact is exacerbated by a multitrillion-dollar legislative package known as the ‘big beautiful bill’ that Republicans passed over the summer, which stripped away guardrails capping the amount of excess subsidies households must repay, experts said." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
¶ 22 Million Americans Relied On ACA Premium Tax Credits To Afford Health Insurance
Approximately 22 Million Americans Relied On ACA Premium Tax Credits To Afford Health Insurance. According to CNBC, "About 22 million Americans received premium subsidies, also known as premium tax credits, in 2025. Households can opt to receive the tax credit in one of two ways: As a lump sum during tax season or as an advanced payment. Under the latter option, by far the most popular, the federal government issues the tax credit directly to a consumer’s insurer, which then lowers the consumer’s out-of-pocket premium. Consumers receive those advanced ACA subsidies based on an estimated annual income they provide when signing up for insurance. They must reconcile those subsidies during tax season and repay any excess tax credits to the IRS." [CNBC, 1/6/26]
¶ Crank voted for a bill that would weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions and increase premiums
¶ December 2025: Crank Voted For The “Lower Health Care Premiums For All Americans Act”
2025: Crank Voted For The “Lower Health Care Premiums For All Americans Act” That Allowed The ACA Tax Credits To Expire. In December 2025, Crank voted for, according to Congressional Quarterly, “the bill that would expand the ability of small businesses to establish association health plans and bars states from preventing small businesses from obtaining stop-loss insurance for self-funded health insurance plans. It would codify and expand rules governing employer-funded health reimbursement arrangements and would allow employees in such arrangements to pay Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums through salary reductions. It would provide funding for ACA policy cost sharing reduction payments that reduce deductibles and copayments. It would prohibit plans from providing abortion-related care. It also would require pharmacy benefit managers to provide transparency regarding prescription drug costs and the drug rebates they receive.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 216 to 211. [House Vote 349, 12/17/25; Congressional Quarterly, 12/17/25; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6703]
¶ The “Lower Health Care Premiums For All Americans Act” Did Nothing To Address The Expiration Of ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits And Would Weaken Protections For People With Pre-Existing Conditions
The “Lower Health Care Premiums For All Americans Act” Failed To Prevent Imminent Premium Spikes For More Than 20 Million People Who Relied On ACA Marketplace Plans. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "The health bill House Republicans are preparing to bring to the floor this week not only fails to prevent imminent premium spikes for more than 20 million people in marketplace plans, but would raise costs even higher for many marketplace enrollees and weaken pre-existing condition protections for individuals and small businesses." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 12/16/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Republicans Pass Health Care Plan Without Re-Upping Insurance Subsidies" [Politico, 12/17/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Passes GOP Health Bill Without Subsidies" [Axios, 12/17/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Passes GOP Health Care Bill Without Obamacare Subsidy Extension" [The Hill, 12/17/25]
- HEADLINE: "House Passes GOP Health Care Bill Without ACA Extension" [CBS News, 12/17/25]
The December 2025 Republican Health Care Bill Would Expand Association Health Plans, Which Would Result In Higher Underlying Premiums For Individuals And Small Businesses That Remained In ACA-Regulated Markets. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "It would expand association health plans (AHPs), a type of health plan that trade associations, professional groups, and other organizations may offer their members, to cover self-employed individuals and small businesses as if they were large employers. By allowing more people to enroll in coverage not subject to ACA standards and consumer protections, this would segment insurance risk pools: individuals who are younger and healthier, or small businesses with younger or healthier employees, could get plans with lower premiums because they would be priced separately from ACA-compliant coverage and wouldn’t have to meet ACA standards such as having to cover a set of essential health benefits. As a result, individuals and small businesses remaining in ACA-regulated markets would see higher underlying premiums." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 12/16/25]
The December 2025 Republican Health Care Bill Would Likely Lead To Higher Premiums For Older And Sicker Small Groups And Self-Employed People, Thereby Undermining Protections For People With Pre-Existing Conditions. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "In addition, the bill would undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions. While it would bar AHPs from rejecting individuals or charging them more based on certain health factors, it would give them greater ability to base a small group’s or self-employed person’s costs on their health risk compared to individual or small-group coverage. This would likely lead to higher premiums for older and sicker small groups and self-employed individuals, making such arrangements more attractive to healthier individuals and groups." [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 12/16/25]