You Can Help Make Closing the Coverage Gap a Top Priority. Tell Governor Otter It’s Time to Enact the Healthy Idaho Plan

Closing the health insurance coverage gap is possible this Legislative Session, but we need your help to make it a priority. From now until the end of the year, join us in asking Governor Otter to support the Healthy Idaho Plan.

Tragedy Hits Idaho Falls Family Living in the Coverage Gap: Jenny Steinke’s Story

A tragic story hit newspapers this fall about a young woman named Jenny. The article, titled Idaho Falls Woman Suffered ‘Death by Poverty,’ explains how Jenny lost her life because she could not afford health insurance and put off going to the doctor due to the high cost. She was living in the coverage gap, and her family is bravely sharing her story in order to bring attention to this issue.

This month is an especially difficult time for Jenny’s family. Not only are they facing spending Christmas without Jenny, but they missed Jenny on her 37th birthday (December 12), on Jenny and her husband’s 10 year wedding anniversary (December 15), and on her husband’s birthday (December 17). Her family is asking that we do everything we can to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.

If we provide comprehensive coverage to the 78,000 Idahoans currently living without health insurance because they fall into the gap, we could prevent hundreds of needless deaths like Jenny’s. The “Healthy Idaho Plan” is the only proposed Idaho solution that would provide individuals in the coverage gap with comprehensive health coverage, including a full essential benefits package, and save our state millions in local tax dollars.

Governor Otter and our Idaho legislators need to make passing the Healthy Idaho Plan a top priority this Legislative Session. Before December 31, please take 5 minutes to email and ask the Governor to take leadership in closing the coverage gap as he prepares for his State of the State address.

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Remember, passing the Healthy Idaho Plan will:

  • Close the coverage gap and prevent hundreds of deaths in Idaho like Jenny’s.
  • Provide comprehensive health coverage to the 78,000 Idahoans living in the gap.
  • Alleviate pain and suffering for thousands of families living without health insurance.
  • Support Idahoans, like the Steinkes, who are working hard to build a future for their families.
  • Save the state millions in local tax dollars and make our health care system more efficient and cost-effective.

Learn more about the issue and what you can do to help by downloading the Close the Gap Advocacy Toolkit.