Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, R, directed the Idaho Department of Insurance Friday to utilize newly loosened ACA regulations to try and seek creative ways of lowering insurance costs for Idaho residents.
Mr. Otter said he hopes payers will offer lower-cost plans that do not meet all the ACA's essential health requirements, as long as they also offer qualifying plans on the exchanges.
"We have been waiting patiently while Congress has been unable to find a solution and Idaho families have been forced to buy products that are too expensive and loaded with benefits they don't want or need. Now the door is open for states to pursue our own reasonable solutions," Mr. Otter said. "We believe Idaho will lead the way in states taking back control of their insurance markets."