BOISE, ID – Idaho is switching contractors that run health insurance plans for vulnerable patients.

Starting June 1, the private health insurance companies running Idaho Medicaid and Medicare’s plans will change to Molina Healthcare and UnitedHealthcare.

That will only apply to the about 27,000 Idahoans who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson AJ McWhorter. Over half of them were already enrolled in an insurance plan run by a private company, called managed care.

People dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid qualify for disabilities, low income and age.

Many patients have already been automatically enrolled in one of the new duals insurance plans. But patients will have 90 days, or until Aug. 30, to pick, McWhorter told the Sun in an email.

Only 2,000 people chose a specific insurance plan so far, after Health and Welfare sent out letters in March, he said on May 22.

“Many people haven’t chosen a new plan because they like the plan they will be enrolled in if they do not make a selection. But we want to be sure that everyone who wants to make an active choice does so,” he said.

Idaho’s dual Medicaid and Medicare offers two types of plans.

How the new Idaho Medicaid duals contracts work

For people dually eligible, Medicaid generally covers costs not fully covered by Medicare, such as for nursing homes and home and community-based services, according to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Both of the new Idaho companies, Molina and United, will be required to honor existing patient authorizations for the first 90 days of the contract, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says.

Health and Welfare is winding down readiness reviews of the new companies and hasn’t spotted any concerning issues, Idaho Medicaid Deputy Director Juliet Charron told the Idaho Capital Sun in a May 19 interview.

“Could there be bumps in the road? Of course,” she said. But that’s why she said Idaho officials are communicating proactively.

People who have questions or concerns should reach out to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, or United or Molina, she said.

Idaho officials, companies resolved gap in duals contract

The health insurer Blue Cross of Idaho previously ran Idaho’s dual Medicaid and Medicare plans. Last year, Idaho went out for a competitive bid for the contract for the first time.

Initially, there was a six-month gap starting this June when Blue Cross’s contract ended and United would’ve started, Idaho Reports reported in January. But since then, Health and Welfare has worked with the new insurance companies to start June 1. One United plan is available starting Jan. 1, 2026.

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.