The Courier
NEWS County Fairs in Lincoln & Camas
Tonight, at 7:00 p.m., the Lincoln County arena will host the ATV Rodeo, and Thursday will be the first of two nights of ICA Rodeo starting at 8 p.m. each evening. Thursday is also the Lincoln County Fair Parade at 6:00 p.m. (sign-up 4:30 & line-up 5:00). Saturday evening, come enjoy the United Truck & Tractor Pull and on Sunday the Antique Tractor Pull (both in the arena at 5:00 p.m.). L.C. 4H/FFA events will continue with the Swine Show (Thursday 8 a.m.), the Beef Show (Friday 9 a.m.), and the Market Animal Sale on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. The Camas County Horse Show will be held this Saturday, July 25th, at the Rodeo Arena starting at 8:00 a.m. and on Sunday morning (8 a.m.) come enjoy 4H Horse Gynkhana. Downtown Fairfield businesses and organizations need to have their Fair Displays ready for judging next Tuesday morning, and various displays will be set-up at the Legion Hall next Wednesday and Thursday till 10:00 a.m. Free Carnival night will be Thursday, July 30th, at 6 p.m. proceeded at 5:45 by the Bike Parade for kids. The carnival will continue on Friday, July 31st, along with the Community Potluck Picnic and Music by the Rocky Mountain Riders at 6:00 p.m. And don’t forget to stop by the library for your raffle tickets (see page 6...)
Gooding County Postpones Rodeo
After months of monitoring and discussion, plans for the Gooding County Fair & Rodeo have changed. Gooding County Commissioners sought input from the Fair Manager, all elected county officials and representatives from North Canyon Medical Center before rendering a final decision this morning. All agreed, the best decision to protect the community and avoid a significant financial loss was to cancel some elements of the event and postpone others. • The rodeo has been postponed with plans to monitor conditions and hopefully to proceed at a later date. • 4H events will continue during fair week with some adjustments to abide by social distancing guidelines. • The Fat Stock sale will be held Saturday, August 22nd at 10:00 in the arena to aide with social distancing requirements. “This was not a knee-jerk decision,” stated Don Gill, Gooding County Fair Manager. “I have been working with the County Commissioners and North Canyon Medical Center for months as we monitored the COVID cases and discussed the risks a large event could have on our county. We are devastated to change our plans for the fair & rodeo, but we all agreed it was the right decision. In addition to COVID concerns, there is a huge financial impact that had to be taken into consideration.” continued on page 7...
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
July 22 2020
Vol 44 Num 30
New Health Insurance Option for Idaho
Press Release
Governor Brad Little applauded a federal court decision that supports Idaho’s approach for Enhanced Short-term Plans, a healthcare insurance option that provides better protection against pre-existing condition exclusions and more robust benefits in areas where traditional short-term plans have fallen short. Idaho’s Enhanced Short-term Plans are similar or better actuarial value than ACA Bronze level plans at significantly lower prices. Enhanced Short-term Plans are (1) guaranteed issue, meaning a consumer may not be denied, (2) guaranteed renewable, meaning a consumer cannot be force out up to 36 months, and (3) are convertible to ACA plans. Enhanced Short-term Plans should not be confused with traditional short-term plans, and both types of coverage are offered in the state. On July 17, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a 2-1 decision that the administration had the legal authority to increase the duration of the health plans from three to 12 months, with the option of renewing them for 36 months. During the Obama Administration, short-term plans were limited to three months, stemming from concerns that healthy people were exiting the ACA (Affordable Care Act) marketplaces. In 2018, the Trump Administration rewrote the rules, allowing customers to purchase short-term plans for up to 12 months with the option to renew them twice. The ruling affirms the ability of all short-term plans, including Idaho’s Enhanced Short-term Plans, which are comprehensive plans with essential health benefits that provide an alternative for Idaho families needing affordable coverage, especially those who are unable to obtain the more expensive ACA plans or do not qualify for a subsidy. Idaho had submitted an amicus brief in support of the Trump Administration and in support of economical health care choices for Idaho families. In 2019, Governor Little signed House Bill 275 after the Idaho Legislature nearly unanimously passed the bill. The legislation called for the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI) to establish Enhanced Short-term Plans. Since then, DOI has approved five plans and rates. Of these five plans, three plans are offered by Blue Cross of Idaho and two plans are offered by SelectHealth. Other health insurance carriers are expected to follow in their footsteps. Nearly 3,000 Idahoans have purchased Enhanced Short-term Plans as of June 30, 2020.