If Idaho went with a federal health insurance exchange, rather than starting its own, state Insurance Director Bill Deal said as many as 2,500 Idaho insurance agents who are licensed for health and life insurance only could go out of business.

“I think there would be no question that agents would probably not be needed in the exchange, using the federal concept,” Deal told lawmakers. “I think it would be a definite economic disaster from the standpoint of more unemployment,” he said. Betsy Russell, EOB

Betsy Russell is covering the discussion in Boise here re: a health insurance exchange. "Otter said Idaho is not “at a crossroads,” at which it must decide - by Sept. 30 - whether or not to apply for a $40 million federal grant to build a new Idaho state insurance exchange."

What do you think would be best for Idaho?

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