Idaho Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Idaho?

Idaho climbed seven spots higher – from 15th to 8th – in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• The percentage of children in poverty in Idaho decreased by 5 percent from the previous year.
• The state's best ranking – 4th – was in the category of infectious disease. Idaho had 4.5 cases per 100,000 population, a fourth of the national average of 20.1 per 100,000. That's a dramatic improvement since 1990, when Idaho was ranked 36th with a rate of 38.8 cases per 100,000.
• The infant mortality rate has also dropped dramatically since 1990 – from 10.8 deaths to 5.9 per 1,000 live births.

The bad news:

• The prevalence of smoking in Idaho increased since 2007 from 16.8 percent to 19.1 percent of the population.
• The state ranked near the bottom (45th) in terms of immunization coverage and at the very bottom in terms of access to primary physicians. The state has 78.9 physicians per 100,000 population, compared to the national average (120).

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Infectious disease – 4th
• Preventable hospitalizations – 5th
• Air pollution – 7th
• Cancer deaths – 8th
• Public health funding – 8th
• Violent crime – 8th
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 9th
• Immunization coverage – 45th
• Number of primary care physicians – 50th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Idaho.

Does Idaho have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Idaho Individual High Risk Reinsurance Pool
(link is to a PDF on program)
Toll-free 1-800-721-3272 (In-state only)

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state-to-state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the poolto keep it in the black. In the best cases they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Find more on risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Idaho

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Idaho and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Idaho.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

USNews health insurance rankings for Idaho

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Idaho.

Official State Goverment Sites with Idaho Health Insurance Information

Idaho Department of Insurance Consumer Publications -- includes a "Shopping Guide to Health Insurance" published by the State of Idaho and other publications.

Senior Health Insurance Benefit Advisors Program -- services for Idaho citizens on Medicare.

Information on Idaho and Medicaid -- Idaho's three Medicaid plans to provide for eligible residents.

Idaho Child -- helps qualifying low-income families get health insurance for their children ages 18 and under.