Oklahoma state insurance expansion sought
Legislative task force makes suggestions to improve health care access

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BY MICHAEL MCNUTT
Published: November 14, 2008

Expanding a state program that helps small businesses provide health care coverage to their low- and middle-income employees and encouraging Oklahomans to take more responsibility for their health were among suggestions made Thursday that may be developed into legislation next year.



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The state House Health Care Reform Task Force spent five months developing ways to reduce the number of uninsured Oklahomans and improve access to health care.

Members were told at several task force meetings that the Insure Oklahoma program has served as a model to other states.

Rep. Kris Steele, co-chairman of the task force, said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, has "made it very clear” that health care is going to be a top priority.

Steele, R-Shawnee, said the Insure Oklahoma program, approved in 2004, is intended to reduce the number of uninsured residents in the state, which the Oklahoma Health Care Authority announced Thursday is about 580,000.

Under the program, the state pays 60 percent of insurance costs, the employer pays 25 percent and the employee pays the remaining 15 percent. The state’s portion of the cost is funded by tobacco tax revenue and federal Medicaid matching dollars.

Legislators last year voted to expand the program, but the changes are awaiting federal approval.

About 15,000 people are enrolled in the program, Steele said. The program is enrolling about 1,000 people a month and is expected to reach its maximum enrollment of 40,000 people in about two years.


 

Related Topics: Health and Fitness, Medicine, Domestic Policy, Social Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Health Care Policy, Health Care Costs, Health Care Issues

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