Idaho Group pursues Medicaid expansion

A group hoping to expand Medicaid in Idaho will kick off its campaign in Blaine County this week, hosting two open houses to recruit the signatures to put the issue on the ballot this year.

Medicaid for Idaho, a division of Reclaim Idaho, will hold events on Thursday, Jan. 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Smokey Bone in Hailey, and Friday, Jan 5, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Leadville Espresso House in Ketchum.

Its goal: to close the so-called Medicaid gap, which consists of people who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to receive federal help buying insurance.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, which is pursuing a separate plan to fill the gap, puts that number at 78,000 Idahoans. Others estimate it lower; Close the Gap Idaho, an organization aiming to expand insurance access, puts the number between 51,000 and 62,000.


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