Otter unveils $30M insurance ‘gap’ proposal

Gov. C. L. “Butch” Otter announced a new $30 million program on Thursday that would provide coverage for basic medical care to nearly 78,000 Idahoans caught in a gap where they neither qualify for health insurance subsidies or Medicaid. Otter told reporters at Associated Press Legislative Preview that he will ask Idaho lawmakers to approve the new plan during this year’s legislative session, which begins Monday. The plan is a state-funded alternative rather than choosing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act — an option the Republican-dominated Idaho Statehouse has rejected repeatedly. However, lawmakers have acknowledged for years that the state’s current system of caring for the indigent is broken/ Kimberlee Kruesi , Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Is this a decent alternative to Medicaid expansion, which probably is DOA as a result of the ideological opposition from Idaho’s majority party?