Why Medicaid Matters in Eagle County—And What We’re Doing About It

In Eagle County, one-third of children and nearly one in five adults rely on Medicaid. These programs aren’t just numbers—they represent parents accessing prenatal care, kids getting check-ups, and seniors managing chronic conditions. Medicaid is the safety net that holds up families, neighborhoods, and the health of our entire region.

But that safety net is at risk.

Proposed Medicaid cuts threaten to unravel critical health access for thousands of our neighbors. The consequences aren’t abstract: fewer people with coverage leads to more emergency room visits, higher health care costs, and a ripple effect that touches every aspect of our local economy. As access to care shrinks, public health outcomes worsen, productivity declines, and the cycle of poverty deepens.

At MIRA, we see the real stories behind these statistics every day.

Our bilingual team meets families where they are—at mobile health events, neighborhood clinics, and local schools—offering free enrollment support for Medicaid, CHP+, OmniSalud, and marketplace insurance plans. This isn’t a side service—it’s a core pillar of what we do. MIRA was built to close gaps in health care access, especially for immigrant families, rural workers, and neighbors who face language or literacy barriers.

But enrollment is only the beginning. MIRA provides wraparound health and human services designed to meet people’s needs in real time, with care that is accessible, culturally rooted, and relationship-based. These services include:

Health & Wellness Services

• Preventative Care
  Blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, immunizations, and referrals to primary care providers help families stay healthy before a crisis occurs.
• Perinatal Support
  Access to prenatal education, OB/GYN referrals, newborn essentials, and postpartum mental health resources for pregnant people and new parents, regardless of insurance status.
• Behavioral Health Services
  Through MIRA Esperanza, individuals receive free, Spanish-language behavioral health screenings and referrals for depression, anxiety, trauma, and more.
• Cancer Screenings and Health Education
  We offer breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings and education in partnership with regional providers—removing financial and linguistic barriers to early detection.

Human Services & Social Connection

• Food Access
  MIRA connects families to The Community Market, food stamps (SNAP), and other nutrition assistance programs, helping households access healthy, affordable food.
• Housing and Utility Assistance
  Staff provide referrals to emergency rental support, eviction prevention services, and help navigating energy assistance programs like LEAP.
• Workforce Support and Legal Navigation
  Through partnerships, families can access job readiness resources, resume help, and support with navigating immigration systems, labor protections, and workers’ rights.
• Transportation and Mobility Help
  MIRA works with local agencies to connect people to discounted transit passes and rides to medical or human service appointments.
• Child and Family Resources
  We connect parents to early childhood programs, school enrollment support, afterschool programs, and parenting classes—so kids can grow up safe, supported, and thriving.

MIRA isn’t just a bus—it’s a bridge. A bridge to health, dignity, and opportunity. When Medicaid is threatened, our community’s most vulnerable lose their bridge.

We urge policymakers to protect Medicaid and invest in community-based solutions like MIRA that already make health and human services accessible to those who need it most in Eagle County. We’re ready to keep showing up—but we can’t do it alone.