Rising costs and uncertainty are straining family budgets, while health coverage for children has declined.

A new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families finds that more Idaho children are going without health insurance — with the state now among the highest in the nation for uninsured children under age 6.

From 2022 to 2024, Idaho’s uninsured rate for children rose from 5.8% to 7.9%, giving the state the fourth-highest rate in the nation in 2024. Only Florida, Texas and Oklahoma had higher rates.

According to a news release tied to the report, families often delay or forgo medical treatment because of high health care costs. Health problems and setbacks in school can follow.

“All it takes is one broken arm on the school playground to financially devastate a family already struggling to make ends meet,” said Ivy Walker, a policy associate at Idaho Voices for Children. 

Statewide, healthcare has been an issue, including Medicaid. These reductions will likely have long-term consequences, especially in rural areas.

Due to Medicaid providers having fewer funds, they may see fewer patients.

“As a result, even children who remain insured may face growing barriers to care, including longer wait times, fewer available specialists and greater travel distances to access services,” Walker said.  

Even more daunting are federal cuts to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. 

On July 4, Congress passed the 2025 Federal Budget Reconciliation Law. While the bill does not directly affect children, the Congressional Budget Office projected that the law will increase uninsured people by 10 million over the next decade, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.