Republican Women’s Club discuss health insurance gap

As the cost of health insurance climbs, so does the number of people living without it.

With the number growing to more than 44 million, it’s become more difficult for policy makers to ignore.

The Republican Women’s Club held a luncheon to discuss with elected leaders the issues surrounding the gap of people who can’t afford medical insurance or make too much money for government assistance.

They discussed the expansion of Medicaid, along with Medicare.

“There are many folks in Idaho who do all they can to work and can provide for themselves and their families, and yet, they are left without any options for health care. They can’t get commercial insurance. They can’t get Medicare, and they can’t Medicaid and we need to reach out and try to fill that gap,” said Doug Crabtree, CEO of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Currently,the counties and the state have a Catastrophic Health Care Fund for people who incurred medical costs they cannot pay for.

The Catastrophic Health Care Cost Fund (CAT Fund) pays the medical costs for people who suffer catastrophic illness or injury.

But it cost local taxpayers millions.

“It’s a major issue because it costs property taxpayers and state taxpayers a lot of money from the local perspective, but also the catastrophic program has been up in the $30 to 40 million a year expenditure for the state,” said Roger Christensen, chairman of Bonneville County Commissioner.

But there maybe another way to pay for it, and legislatures are juggling the two choices.

“Whether or not we want to fill that gap with Medicaid or continue with our current county and catastrophic program, we have to cover that population,” said Rep. Tom Loertscher.

Legislators are considering a request to the federal government to allow Medicaid to pay for insurance for the people in that gap.

That would save taxpayers from contributing property taxes to the Catastrophic Health Care Fund.

But some are opposed to the expansion of federal programs and the strings attached.

The legislature will make the final decision next year.

Meanwhile the state of Utah are facing similar struggles with the expansion of Medicaid.