As the Idaho Legislature debates the future of health care in the state, lawmakers face a choice: protect Medicaid expansion and the thousands of Idahoans who depend on it, or move forward with proposals that would strip health care coverage from tens of thousands of people.
Advocates from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network are headed to the capital this week. They are advocating to protect Medicaid and preserve the expansion that has helped thousands of Idaho families have access to care since 2020.
According to an article by the Idaho Capital Sun, the Medicaid expansion has been approved by nearly 61% of voters in 2018 to close the gap for low-income residents to receive coverage. The policy took effect in 2020 and has provided coverage to thousands of residents in Idaho.
Despite overwhelming support from voters, lawmakers are considering legislation that would repeal the program entirely. A bill that was introduced would eliminate Medicaid expansion starting in 2028. This would remove around 90,000 residents from the program.
For many families, this would mean losing access to preventive care, cancer screenings, mental health treatment and other life-saving care.
Supporters of the repeal argue that Medicaid expansion puts a strain on the state budget. Some legislators have framed the issue as a choice between funding services for people with disabilities or continuing expansion for low-income adults.
However, this framing creates a false dilemma.
Health care policy should not put two vulnerable groups against one another. Idaho can and should support people with disabilities while also maintaining coverage for those who need it.
Medicaid expansion was designed to help people who fall into the “coverage gap.” These are often working adults whose incomes are too high to qualify for traditional Medicaid but too low to qualify for traditional insurance.
Before the expansion took effect, Idaho relied on programs like the Catastrophic Health Care Fund and other care programs to help cover unpaid medical bills.
These programs were repealed after the expansion took effect, meaning that if the expansion disappears, the state could once again be responsible for paying emergency care for uninsured residents.
Medicaid expansion also brings billions of dollars for federal funding into Idaho’s health care system. This supports hospitals, clinics and health care jobs throughout the state.
House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel said that repealing the expansion would cost Idaho more in the long run.
There’s a lingering question about if lawmakers will respect the wishes of the voters, or if they will strip coverage from them.
For many residents in Idaho, health care is not negotiable for them. They depend on it for everyday risks, or even large emergencies. Some even need it to save their lives.
If lawmakers truly want to strengthen Idaho’s health care system, they should focus on improving access and not taking it away.
For the sake of Idaho and its residents, the answer to the repeal should be clear.
Andrea Roberts can be reached at [email protected].