As Idahoans, we want our public dollars to be spent wisely. When we find ways to use resources today to reduce predictable expenses ahead, we know that’s a winning, smart investment.
Closing the Gap is Responsible Fiscal Stewardship
With better coverage, we can pay for health care in a more efficient way that allows families to take personal responsibility for their health. Closing the gap would cover working Idahoans who cannot afford health insurance and have to seek care in the most expensive place: the emergency room.
If Idaho doesn’t accept take advantage of available resources to close the gap, we will be stuck paying for the emergency care of the uninsured the old, inefficient way: Through our property taxes, state funds, and higher health insurance premiums. The old way will cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars. Worst of all, we will needlessly put the health and economic security of our hardworking families at risk.
Increasing Health Coverage Will Grow the Economy
Covering the gap would bring economic benefits to every corner of the state, as the new health care dollars ripple through the local economies. When health care workers buy their groceries, get their oil changed, or go out to lunch, they will help fuel the local economy. Over the next 10 years, Idaho would see over $700 million in new economic activity and 15,000 new sector jobs. To put that in perspective, there were about 42,000 unemployed Idahoans at the beginning of 2014.
Read more about the Economic Benefits of Closing the Gap.
Read about the fiscal advantages realized by closing the gap in Rx for a Healthy Idaho.