Cates letter: Coverage gap
In the Tuesday, Aug. 30, story titled “Impasse on expansion of Medicaid persists,” I read of the 10-member panel of legislators studying the issue for an alternative approach. Half of the panel are totally opposed to expansion. No matter that Idaho economists have shown that expanding Medicaid to the gap group not only helps these working poor, but would prove to be beneficial for our state’s economy.
The following quote from a Republican senator, a member of the panel, caps the ideology of those opposed ... “We have to take into consideration that there are those in the 78,000 who could pay for their health insurance if they just worked a little more.” Really? Many of those in this gap group work more than one job, attend college, have children and they just need to work more? The 78,000 will likely not get the help they need, and deserve, as long as there are Idaho citizens with these attitudes.
Evelyn Cates, Boise
This story was originally published September 11, 2016 at 11:54 PM with the headline "Cates letter: Coverage gap."