Idaho Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Idaho?

After climbing from #15 to #8 in 2008, Idaho fell back to #14 in the 2009 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• The state's best ranking – 4th – was in the category of infectious disease. Idaho had 4.2 cases per 100,000.
• Idaho had one of the top rates for preventable hospitalizations with 51.1 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees.
• Idaho continued to report a low rate of violent crime (229 offenses per 100,000 population) earned it the #7 ranking for the second straight year.
• The study also noted that Idaho had "strong public health funding" at $116 per person, the 8th best level in the nation.

The bad news:

• Idaho ranked near the bottom (49th) in terms of immunization coverage and at the very bottom in terms of access to primary physicians. The state has 78.1 physicians per 100,000 population, slightly lower than 2008's 78.9 per 100,000. The national average is 120.6 per 100,000.
• The percentage of children in poverty in Idaho increased from 12.6 percent to 17.2 percent from a year ago.
• The prevalence of obesity in Idaho has increased from 16.4 percent to 25.1 percent of the population over the past decade.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Infectious disease – 4th
• Preventable hospitalizations – 5th
• Air pollution – 6th
• Violent crime – 7th
• Cancer deaths – 7th
• Public health funding – 8th
• Lack of health insurance – 30th
• Immunization coverage – 49th
• 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)

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Idaho will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Idaho's participation, click here.

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 pool to 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. Read more about 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.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Idaho

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Idaho.

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.