In a guest opinion for the Idaho Statesman, Dr. Bruce Belzer of the Idaho Medical Association comments:

As a family physician in Idaho, I’ve watched in dismay as the past four legislative sessions failed to address the “gap” population in any meaningful way. This disappointment was particularly poignant on the last day of the 2016 session, when Republican representatives in the Idaho House voted unanimously to deny the gap-coverage solution approved the day prior by a bipartisan majority of the Senate. If you aren’t familiar with the gap population, there are currently 78,000 Idahoans, most of whom are employed and have children, who lack any form of health insurance. They fall into the gap because they don’t qualify for Medicaid coverage, yet ironically earn too little to receive subsidy assistance on Idaho’s insurance exchange. More here.

Question: Are you optimistic that House Republicans will wake up and help the state's working poor afford insurance?

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