Breaking Barriers: A Deep Dive into Health Care Access Challenges Facing Idaho’s Hispanic Community – Insights from the Latest Report

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Many people in Idaho have returned to Medicaid since the program started changing in April 2023. However, the number of Hispanic Medicaid enrollees in the state hasn’t bounced back. A recent report highlights this issue.

The Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs shared its “Hispanic Statewide Healthcare Plan” during a recent legislative event. This report, created with Boise State University’s Idaho Policy Institute and backed by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, shines a light on the health gaps faced by Idaho’s Hispanic community.

In November, around 35,000 Hispanics in Idaho were enrolled in Medicaid. That’s down by about 8,500 from March when the number was 43,400. Margie Gonzalez, the executive director of the commission, explained that the report aims to inform decision-makers at both state and national levels.

“Businesses are looking to expand into Idaho, and they often seek information about the Latino community before making moves,” she noted, emphasizing the constant requests for data her office receives.

According to Gonzalez, the report captures the healthcare struggles of the Hispanic population in Idaho. “We have many challenges. We need the data to know where to begin,” she said.

Previously, in April 2023, states resumed the removal of individuals from Medicaid after a three-year pause due to the pandemic. By last April, 40,000 Idahoans out of 185,000 who were disenrolled had regained their Medicaid coverage. Unfortunately, the Hispanic community did not see similar recovery rates.

The report also notes a significant drop in enrollment for Hispanic children in the Child Health Insurance Program. Before the changes in Medicaid, about 10,000 children were enrolled. By November, that number fell to 5,800.

Some of this decline can be attributed to changing incomes. However, Maria Onaindia, a research associate at the Idaho Policy Institute, pointed out that 70% of those disenrolled were due to administrative issues. This situation clearly affects the Hispanic community more severely.

Regionally, counties like Elmore and Blaine saw a sharper decline in Hispanic enrollment for both children and adults. The report delivers some eye-opening findings:

• Approximately 18.6% of Hispanics in Idaho are uninsured, significantly higher than the 10.9% rate for the overall state population.
• The average age of death for Hispanic individuals in Idaho is 61.5, while it is 74.2 for non-Hispanic residents.