The Idaho branch of AARP said the state Senate’s decision to approve the Idaho Health Freedom Act Tuesday could spell disaster for the state’s health care system.
“This legislation will do more harm than good for Idaho,” said AARP Idaho State Director Jim Wordelman. “This legislation does nothing to address the health care crisis facing hundreds of thousands of Idahoans and everything to make that crisis worse.” An AARP news release says the association will notify its 180,000 members across Idaho of their senator’s vote on the Health Freedom Act, which passed 24-10. The release also said the legislation could have unintended consequences, including potentially costing the state $1.6 billion in annual federal fund for Medicaid and children’s health care and hurting the state’s chances of getting the F-35 fighter jet program.
Read AARP’s full news release below.
STATE SENATE FAILS IDAHOANS STRUGGLING WITH HIGH HEALTH CARE COSTS
Passage of Idaho Health Freedom Act Creates More Problems and No Solutions to Worsening State Health Care Crisis
BOISE, Idaho – Idahoans buckling under soaring health care costs didn’t get any help from the Idaho State Senate tonight. In fact, with the passage of the Idaho Health Freedom Act (House Bill 391), they may have just made matters worse.
AARP has made tonight’s vote part of its “accountability vote” efforts: The Association will track and report the roll call and inform all its 180,000 Idaho members how their Senator voted.
While across the state Idaho residents are being hit with soaring insurance premiums, leaving over 100,000 people to spend more than 25% of the income on health care, tonight they received another roadblock to relief. The legislation not only could spell disaster for Idaho’s current health care system, it could also cost the state federal matching money that allows Idaho to provide needed health care for the state’s children and families.
“This legislation will do more harm than good for Idaho, is full of unintended consequences and brings home the divisiveness and fighting that have kept Idahoans from the health care solutions they need,” said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho. “This legislation does nothing to address the health care crisis facing hundreds of thousands of Idahoans and everything to make that crisis worse.”
Idahoans are currently seeing their health insurance premium increases soar into double digits – these premiums are expected to double in the next few years. In Idaho, over 220,000 people are uninsured, that number is expected to soar as more of the state’s unemployed lose health care benefits. 213,000 older Idahoans are stuck in the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” where they are pay 100% of the cost of the prescription drugs, forcing many to skip taking their needed medications.
“AARP commends the Idaho Senators who did what was right and took a stand against this disastrous bill,” added Wordelman. “Those who voted in favor of this bill voted to make Idaho’s health care problems worse for children, families and the elderly.”
The legislation could have severe and unintended consequences and is strongly opposed by AARP because it:
- Does nothing to address the real health care problems Idahoans face, high prescription drug and insurance prices and the high cost of health care.
- Contradicts existing state policy that requires all full-time students at state colleges and universities to carry health insurance — without it they can’t enroll.
- Ties the hands of Idaho legislators with a permanent state law taking aim at a non-existent federal one, which could prevent action on needed state health care issues.
- Will engage Idaho in costly litigation with little chance for success.
- Could cost the state over $1.6 billion in federal matching funds for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), compromising the coverage for 260,000 Idahoans and losing thousands of state health care jobs.
- Destabilizes Idaho’s carefully constructed regulations for the insurance industry.
- May prevent state regulators from addressing health insurance and health plan issues – leaving premiums, deductibles and co-pays subject to even greater increases.
- Puts at risk Idaho’s bid for the F-35 project — while telling the federal government to stay out of the state with one hand, with the other we’re urging them to come and spend billions of dollars in Idaho and bring thousands of jobs.
AARP – 180,000 members in Idaho? Not anymore, because we have cancelled our membership! AARP is deceitful in their support of ObamaCare telling their members they were not supporting at the same time that they were.
Cradle to grave security results in loss of freedom. Which do you want? Security from a system that will not be able to support you when push comes to shove? Or the freedom to make your own choices?
F-35 program? Yep, that’s a legitimate function of the federal government. Health care? Nope – not a legitimate function. Its reserved to the states or to the people. Probably best left to the people!
To Whom It May Concern. Idaho did the right thing…They may not have the IRS after them if the Health Care goes through.. Here in Missouri, I wish they would do the same but they in Jeff City they are dragging their feet for some reason. Remember, this has nothing to do with “Health Care” , all to do with “Control”. The Government will have 56% controll of all things in America. Where is the Constitution in all of this…. “BABIES being killed now on my tax dollars on command/ whatever..AARP please do your research and you will find where this country is going to..Start with http://www.jbs.org
Concern Citizen
Roderick Saunders
My husband is a NY State retiree of the NY Power Authority. One of his retirement benefits is paid membership in the AARP. He has been trying to cancel this membership for over a year to no avail. The AARP is just another community organizer and lobbyist to promote a socialist agenda.