Coloradans are increasingly concerned about their ability to stay in the state as they compromise and express frustration with the government.
The Colorado Health Foundation’s 2026 Pulse Survey, an annual assessment of sentiment in the state, is out. It doesn’t show much luck. 85% of respondents say the cost of living is a serious or extreme problem. A similar percentage believe housing affordability is a serious problem. Nearly as many, 82%, say health care costs are a serious problem.
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The Pulse survey, conducted by telephone in March and April with 2,240 adults, shows “±3.2% at a 95% confidence level,” according to the survey authors.
“We have three-quarters of Coloradans worried that they may not be able to afford to live in Colorado in the future,” said Lori Weigel, principal of polling firm New Bridge Strategy and co-director of the survey.
People are making choices and spending less in some areas. Some do things like Skip meals.
“One of the highest rates we’ve seen over these years is skipping meals and going without food to afford other things,” Weigel said.
Almost three quarters spend less on leisure and entertainment. 55% say they have limited their donations to nonprofits and charities. More than a third said they had postponed medical and dental treatments. Three out of five Coloradans have experienced a serious financial challenge in the last year. This percentage has increased by 8 percentage points compared to the previous year.
“I don’t have the money for the downtime,” Bertha Wooten said of a necessary knee operation. She found herself outside a Denver Health clinic, where she was grateful she could receive treatment through Medicaid.
Louis Morales and his ex-wife Geri Sisneros sat together outside the clinic after a visit, trying to figure out a new reality. Louis had a stroke earlier this year and she has helped him despite battling a non-cancerous brain tumor which is affecting her health.
“I’m used to getting up early in the morning, going to work and living my life, but now I have to put everything on hold,” said Louis Morales.
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He was told that returning to his construction job was not possible.
“Will I have enough money to take care of us, you know?” he wonders.
Joe Padilla moved to Colorado to help care for his brother, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and needs a lung transplant. The brother only has 28% of his lung capacity. They will not seek the transplant.
“We can’t afford that. We can’t afford that. So we supposedly do a lung reduction. Because it costs money,” Padilla said.
He believes the nation needs a better healthcare system.
“That’s the problem,” Padilla said. “We don’t have any politicians who support this.”
Fear of the government is part of reality, says Weigel.
“Nearly three-quarters say they are dissatisfied with the way government leaders are responding to economic concerns,” Weigel said.
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