Idaho could be joining 31 other states soon in expanding Medicaid coverage.
A study looking at health care alternatives for folks living below the poverty line was released Thursday. It was found that those who fall in the gap tend to be working. However, their employer doesn't offer health benefits or they make too much to qualify for assistance.
The findings were presented to a legislative workgroup that has been formed to come up with a solution.
"We have a lot of cost-shifting in our system to care for the uninsured," said Lauren Necochea, director of Idaho Voices for Children. "By closing the coverage gap, we could do away with the cost-shifting that puts pressure on taxes and our health insurance premiums and increases the cost of health care for everyone."
Close the Gap Idaho is a coalition made up of 200 health care policy experts, nonprofit leaders, health providers and others. The research was developed by the Idaho Voices for Children group with fiscal analysis provided by the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy.
You can read the publication for yourself, visit http://closethegapidaho.org/wp-content/uploads/Chart-Book.pdf .
