Brigham Young University-Idaho stops accepting Medicaid coverage for students

Rexburg-based Brigham Young University-Idaho will no longer allow Medicaid coverage to fulfill its requirement that all students have health insurance, according to The New York Times.

The decision, which only affects students on Brigham Young's Idaho campus, appeared to be linked to the Medicaid expansion in the state, according to the Times' review of a letter sent to students. Idaho is slated to expand Medicaid Jan. 1, the same day the university will implement its new insurance policy. The university said if more students sign up for Medicaid under the expansion, it "would be impractical for the local medical community."

However, local providers disagree with this statement. A spokesperson from nearby Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg told the Times, "We have some great providers here, and we feel like we're able to handle any growth that the university and the community would need."

One student told the Times she will likely drop out of school due to the decision, as she can't afford private insurance. The cheapest option for students is through the university's student health plan, which has a $4,750 deductible.

Read the full story here.

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