BOISE - Dozens of Idahoans rallied at the Capitol on Thursday, urging Gov. Butch Otter and the Legislature to expand health care coverage.
Demonstrators are calling on lawmakers to pass House Bill 464, which addresses the so-called "coverage gap." Supporters say the bill, which is also known as the Idaho Health Care Plan, would narrow this gap in coverage.
According to Idaho Voices for Children, 78,000 people in the state are without health insurance because they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and make too little to get a tax credit through the Idaho Health Insurance Exchange.
The agency says the passage of HB 464 would make coverage affordable for 35,000 of the 78,000 people living without it.
"Idahoans we have talked to have pretty much given up hope that politicians in Washington, D.C., are going to fix our health care problems and they are looking to the Idaho Legislature and the governor to find a solution," says Lauren Necochea of Idaho Voices for Children.
Earlier this year, the bill passed out of the House Health and Welfare Committee but lawmakers on the floor ultimately sent it back to committee, where it sits now.
Along with expanding health care coverage, demonstrators Thursday were also urging legislators to support funding for general medical education, which they say would address Idaho's physician shortage.
Idaho ranks 49th in the country in physicians per capita.