IDAHO – A recent report from Georgetown University revealed a concerning increase in the rate of children without health insurance in Idaho. The state’s uninsured rate for children has jumped from nearly 6% to more than 8% between 2022 and 2024, marking the second highest percentage increase in the U.S.
The study attributes this spike to a period known as “Medicaid unwinding,” which occurred post-pandemic when coverage protections were lifted and eligibility checks resumed. It was found that nearly 50,000 children lost coverage, with 73% being ineligible and subsequently disenrolled from the Children’s Medicaid Program, CHIP.
The report highlights that 36% of rural Idaho children depend on Medicaid coverage. There is a prediction that these numbers could climb even higher as Medicaid tax credits face cuts.
