Congressman Gabe Evans Supports House Republican Plan to Lower Health Care Costs for All Americans

WASHINGTON, DC - Today Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO-08) voted in favor of H.R. 6703the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, comprehensive legislation that lowers health care premiums, expands health care access and choice, and brings transparency to America's broken health care system.

"State and Federal Democrats broke the American healthcare system - driving up costs for working families and limiting access to affordable health plans while states like Colorado began taking your tax money and paying for healthcare to individuals illegally present in the country. This Republican-led, solution-oriented bill builds on the progress made in the Working Families Tax Cut by putting patients and families first and expanding affordable and reliable healthcare access for all Americans." - Congressman Gabe Evans

Lowering Premiums and Prescription Drug Costs

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act takes direct aim at rising premiums by:

• Increasing transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) so employers and workers can see where prescription drug dollars are going and negotiate better prices.

• Funding cost-sharing reduction payments responsibly, reducing hidden premium increases and stabilizing the individual insurance market.

• Lowering ACA premiums by an estimated 11 percent, delivering greater savings than temporary subsidy extensions.

These reforms are projected to save taxpayers billions of dollars, while reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients and workers.

Expanding Affordable Options for Workers, Farmers, and Small Businesses

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Actdirectly addresses the causes of rising health care costs by promoting competition, transparency, and flexibility - especially for workers, farmers, small businesses, and the self-employed. The legislation also expands access to affordable coverage by:

• Strengthening Association Health Plans, allowing small businesses, family farms, and self-employed workers to band together to purchase lower-cost, high-quality coverage.

• Protecting access to stop-loss insurance, ensuring employers can continue offering customizable coverage without facing catastrophic financial risk.

• Expanding CHOICE (Custom health option and individual care expense) arrangements, enabling employers to contribute pre-tax dollars toward employees' individual health plans and giving workers more flexibility to choose coverage that fits their needs.

More than 80%of employers using CHOICE arrangements are offering health benefits for the first time, a major step toward expanding coverage without mandates.

Background:

For nearly 15 years, Democrats' Unaffordable Care Act has failed to deliver affordable, accessible health care for American Families. Instead of lowering costs and expanding choice, Democrat-led policies have driven up premiums, narrowed provider networks, and forced working families, farmers and small businesses to pay more for far less coverage - all while diverting limited health care resources away from Americans who need them the most.

Rather than fixing these failures, Democrats have doubled down on policies that prioritize individuals who are in the country illegally over U.S. citizens and lawful residents. In Colorado, Democrat lawmakers have gone even further, by expanding state supported health care access and subsidies to individuals regardless of their immigration status, increasing costs across the system for American families.

Colorado's Expansion of Health Coverage for Illegal Immigrants:

Colorado currently provides health coverage to individuals who are illegally present in the U.S. According to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), immigration status determines eligibility for multiple public and state-facilitated health programs, and individuals without lawful status qualify for several forms of government supported coverage.

Through the OmniSaludprogram, undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients are allowed to enroll in health insurance plans through the state exchange, regardless of legal status. Under a 2021 Democrat passed law, insurance companies in Colorado are required to offer Colorado option plans - which are standardized plans with state mandated benefits and price controls - to all residents, including those in the country illegally. These plans are paired with state funded subsidies, such as SilverEnhanced Savings, which cover premiums and a significant share of out-of-pocket cost for undocumented enrollees.

While these subsidies are described as "state-funded," they are financed through fees imposed on insurance companies - costs that are ultimately passed on to American families in the form of higher premiums.

Democrat Driven Expansion of Government Health Programs:

Beginning January 1, 2025, Colorado Democrats further expanded taxpayer funded, medicaid-style coverage though Colorado House Bill 22-1289, also known as "Cover All Coloradans." Allowing children and pregnant women to receive fullHealth First Colorado

(Medicaid) or Child Health Plan Plus(CHP+) benefits regardless of immigration status. The state also provides Emergency Medicaid Servicesto individuals regardless of their legal status.

The State of Colorado publicly promotes these programs as providing access to care, "regardless of immigration status," even as American families face rising premiums, higher deductibles, and fewer affordable coverage options.

Higher Cost, Fewer Choices for Americans:

In 2025 alone, more than 12,000undocumented immigrants received fully subsidized health insurance through Colorado's OmniSalud program. Demand for these subsidies far exceeded available funding, forcing the state to ration benefits though a lottery system - a clear sign that Democrat policies are unsustainable and misaligned with the needs of American citizens.

As more resources are directed toward covering illegal immigrants, premiums rise, competition shrinks, and hard working Americans are left footing the bill.

Putting Americans First:

The Lower Health Care for All Americans Act represents a clear break from failed Democratic policies. House Republicans are focused on restoring integrity to the healthcare system, lowering premiums, increasing transparency, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used to benefit American families - not to subsidize coverage for those who should not be here.