BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's employee health insurance plans are comparable to the federal government's most expensive option offered under the Affordable Care Act and better than what most private companies provide.

According to a report from the Pew Charitable Trusts released Tuesday, Idaho covers 93 percent of all medical costs for state employees.

That compares to private Idaho employers, where plans generally cover 80 percent of medical costs.

Meanwhile, most Idaho residents who buy federal plans on the state's health insurance exchange purchase less expensive options that cover 70 percent of medical costs.

Pew project director Maria Schiff says health insurance costs have become a leading budget driver for all states but up until recently, little has been known about how they compare with one another and with the private sector.

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