AARP to Legislators: Don't Play Politics With Idahoans' Health Care Woes

State-based Health Care Exchange Heads for Legislative Battle as Most Idahoans Report Difficulty Paying for Health Insurance

BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With Idaho lawmakers poised for a battle over creating a state-based health care exchange, AARP Idaho is issuing a stern warning today:  Don't play politics with Idahoans' health care woes.  That warning comes with the backup of  an AARP survey of Idaho registered voters finding most are having difficulty paying for their health insurance and stand in overwhelmingly strong support of creating a state-based health care exchange to tackle the issue.

The exchange would set up an insurance marketplace, and help individuals and small businesses find more affordable health insurance plans, allowing them to get the same deal large businesses do when it comes to health insurance costs.  Idaho has been given $20.3 million by the federal government to implement the exchange.  Setting up a state-based health care exchange ensures that Idaho is at the table when it comes to implementation and oversight.

"Idahoans are looking for leadership and solutions to their health care cost burdens – making political hay out of creating a state-based health care exchange shows the promise of neither," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho. "The fact that most Idaho voters want this solution, while it faces an uncertain fate with state lawmakers, shows a serious disconnect.

The AARP survey of Idaho registered voters ages 30-64 found creating a health exchange has strong support across all political parties,  with the majority of Republican (77% support) and conservative (72% support) voters behind the idea.  Among Democrats, 78% back the idea, while 73% of Independents do. 

"Many people in Idaho are facing hardships when it comes to affording their health insurance – they are counting on their lawmakers to address the issue, not just make more noise from the statehouse," added Wordelman.  "When people in the Gem State are cutting back on their spending on food, delaying filling a prescription or seeing their doctor in order to pay for health insurance, you no longer have just a problem, you have a looming crisis."

According to the recent AARP survey, 40% have not seen a doctor when they needed to in order to pay for their health insurance, while 33% have cut back on food, clothing and housing costs, and 22% have delayed filling a prescription. While most Idaho voters support the health insurance exchange, over 80% said it's important for Idaho to develop and implement a state-based one.

If states don't create their own exchanges, the federal government will run the marketplace for the state.   AARP strongly supports a consumer-centric exchange. The AARP survey shows that nearly 74% of respondents said it was very to extremely important a health insurance exchange put the needs of individuals and small businesses before those of health insurance companies.

The full survey can be found online at: http://bit.ly/wp5ABR

AARP is Idaho's largest membership organization with over 180,000 members.
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SOURCE AARP Idaho