Colorado sentiment towards healthcare workers shaping state policy

Kaiser Health News published a piece that looked at Colorado's attempt to pass a government-run health insurance option (known as "public option"). Before the pandemic, it appears that there was sufficient legislative support for a public option, but as the article points out, healthcare workers have been seen as heroes in the fight against the pandemic and people have been less willing to support a major policy change that would mean less compensation for healthcare staff.

Despite the sentiment this year, this article shows that people were concerned about health insurance premiums before the pandemic; people are likely to care more once again after the pandemic subsides. Even with the reduced support, it appears that the Colorado legislature was able to negotiate premium reduction targets, although the penalty for not attaining the targets seems much softer. Perhaps we will see more attitudes shift in favor of government action in the health insurance market this decade.