Most Idaho Lawmakers Receiving State Health Care Coverage

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers are eligible for the same health care benefits as full-time state employees even though they are considered part-time workers.

The Idaho Statesman reports that 90 out of Idaho's 105 lawmakers are enrolled in the state's health care plan. State records show that 30 of the 35 Senate members and 60 of the 70 House members are enrolled.

The 14 percent opt-out rate inside the Legislature is higher than the state's workforce, where just about 8 percent of employees don't take the state-provided benefits.

Earlier this year, Sen. Dan Schmidt, a Democrat from Moscow, announced he would no longer accept state health care coverage until lawmakers found a way to provide health care coverage to the estimated 78,000 Idahoans who don't qualify for Medicaid.