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Model Application Template for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program

Effective Date:

Approval Date: 6 Section 2. General Background and Description of State Approach to Child Health Coverage and Coordination (Section 2102 (a)(1)- (3)) and (Section 2105)(c)(7)(A)-(B))

2.1. Describe the extent to which, and manner in which, children in the state including targeted low-income children and other classes of children, by income level and other relevant factors, such as race and ethnicity and geographic location, currently have creditable health coverage (as defined in 42 CFR 457.10). To the extent feasible, make a distinction between creditable coverage under public health insurance programs and public-private partnerships (See Section 10 for annual report requirements). (42 CFR 457.80(a))

The following describes the extent to which children in the state, including targeted low-income children and other classes of children, by income level and other relevant factors, such as race and ethnicity and geographic location, currently have creditable health coverage (as defined in 42 CFR 457.10).

Idaho is a predominantly rural state. Of Idaho’s 44 counties, 17 are classified as frontier (less than 6 people per square mile) and an additional 19 are classified as rural (those that do not contain a population center of more than 20,000 people). The rural nature of Idaho has a significant impact on health care issues, including insurance enrollment and health access.

Idaho’s largest ethnic minority is of Hispanic heritage. Southwest, southeast and south-central Idaho in particular have large concentrations of people with Hispanic heritage. Idaho also has five Native American tribes: the Shoshone and Bannock Tribes in eastern Idaho, the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes in Duck Valley, southwestern Idaho, the Nez Perce Tribe in north central Idaho, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe in northern Idaho.

According to the 2004 Current Population Survey, there are 384,000 children ages 18 or under in Idaho, of whom 33,000 are without health insurance. This is a significant decrease from earlier estimates of uninsured children (51,000 in 2003, 50,000 in 2002, and 45,000 in 2001). The number of children in Idaho living in families with incomes at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) is 169,000, using a three-year average of Current Population Survey data from 2002, 2003 and 2004 (from a three-year average total of 394,000 children). Of those 169,000 children at or below 200% FPG, 30,000 are estimated to have no health insurance.