More than 113,000 Oklahomans approved for health coverage through Medicaid expansion (2024)

More than 113,000 Oklahomans will have health coverage starting next month through Medicaid expansion.

Of those, 17,591 are people who had never applied before, according to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

The rest — 95,829 — are people whose recent applications were reprocessed or those who were transitioned into SoonerCare from more limited benefitprograms.

Melissa Richey, a spokeswoman for the Health Care Authority, said the agency is monitoring what parts of the state applicants are coming from, as well as their ages and other demographics, to determine where it’ll need to focus outreach efforts to reach more eligible Oklahomans.

“We also will have to target more of those people who don't have access to a computer or mobile phone where they can apply,” Richey said.

Who’s eligible and how to apply:What does Oklahoma’s Medicaid expansion mean for me?

One group, Indivisible Stillwater — which, along with other chapters of the organization,was part of the grassroots effort to garner support for Medicaid expansion to Oklahoma — is working to bolster the state's efforts to spread the wordabout who is now eligible, said the group's founder and co-leader, Cindy Alexander.

"Some of the newly eligible people, maybe they don't participate in social media, maybe they don't have good internet access where they live. But they go to the grocery store, and they might go to church, and they might see a flyer that somebody posted," Alexander said. "We're just trying to supplement the state's efforts to be sure that anybody who might be eligible checks to see if they're eligible."

More than 113,000 Oklahomans approved for health coverage through Medicaid expansion (1)

SoonerCare enrollment demographics

So far, more than 73,000 —nearly 65% — of those newly approved for SoonerCare through expansion are women. That was to be expected, Richey said, because many of the early enrollees are people who were transitioned into the program from other eligibility groups, like parents and caretaker relatives, and women make up a larger portion of those groups.

“As more members apply on their own, we anticipate that gap to narrow,” she said.

The largest number of enrollees is in the 25 to 34 age range, with more than 34,000 people who have been approved for coverage. The age group with the lowest number of enrollees is 55- to 64-year-olds, with under 9,000. That group likely will be targeted in the Health Care Authority’s future outreach, Richey said.

About 59% live in urban areas, compared to about 41% of new enrollees who live in rural areas.

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More than 113,000 Oklahomans approved for health coverage through Medicaid expansion (2)

Tips for applying for Medicaid

Steve Goldman, who helps people enroll in Medicaid through his work as health navigator at Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, said the state’s expansion enrollment numbers so far show “that Oklahomans are taking care of their health by getting coverage when they couldn’t get it before."

He offered a few tips for those applying: first, it’s not a job interview. You can apply multiple times or update your application, and the approval process is instant if you’re on the phone or applying online.

Those who are eligible will want to have coverage before they accrue any medical bills.

“Pre-existing conditions are covered. But pre-existing bills aren't,” he said, adding that coverage typically begins the day someone applies. “So you need to have coverage before your care starts adding up to bills.”

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Who'seligible and how to apply for Medicaid in Oklahoma

About 200,000 Oklahomans are expected to apply for coverage through Medicaid expansion in its first year. Under the expanded eligibility guidelines, adults ages 19-64 are eligible for benefits if their income is 138% or lower than the federal poverty level.

For an individual, that is an income of about $17,796 a year, or $36,588 for a family of four.

Applications can be submitted online, over the phone or through the mail. To apply online, visitMySoonerCare.org.To apply over the phone, call the SoonerCare Helpline at 800-987-7767.

To send in an application by mail, printable applications can be found in English and Spanish on the Oklahoma Health Care Authority website.

For those who apply online or over the phone, you'll get an answer immediately about whether you are approved for coverage. By mail, it'll be a wait of about two to three weeks.

Eligibility guidelines can be found on theHealth Care Authority's website.

More than 113,000 Oklahomans approved for health coverage through Medicaid expansion (2024)

FAQs

How much money can you have in the bank to qualify for Medicaid in Oklahoma? ›

Income & Asset Limits for Eligibility
2024 Oklahoma Medicaid Long-Term Care Eligibility for Seniors
Type of MedicaidSingle
Income LimitAsset Limit
Institutional / Nursing Home Medicaid$2,829 / month*$2,000
Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services$2,829 / month†$2,000
1 more row
Mar 27, 2024

What is the income for Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma? ›

Expansion Adults (effective: 4/1/2024)
Size of HouseholdMonthly IncomeAnnual Income
1$1,732$20,784
2$2,352$28,224
3$2,970$35,640
4$3,588$43,056
4 more rows

Is the Medicaid expansion good or bad thing for the states? ›

Medicaid expansion is also linked to reduced infant mortality. While infant mortality fell in both expansion and non-expansion states between 2010 and 2016, it fell 50 percent more in expansion states. Racial disparities in infant mortality rates fell in expansion states as well.

What are the benefits of Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma? ›

Oklahoma Medicaid (SoonerCare) was expanded (as called for in the ACA) as of July 2021, with coverage newly available to non-elderly adults earning up to 138% of the poverty level. More than 330,000 people have gained coverage as a result of Medicaid expansion in Oklahoma.

How do I protect my assets from Medicaid in Oklahoma? ›

With a Medicaid trust, you become eligible for Medicaid benefits, and your assets will not be used to meet your nursing home or other long-term care bills. Your property can pass on to your loved ones after your demise. A Medicaid trust is established by creating a correctly worded document and appointing a trustee.

What is the income limit for food stamps in Oklahoma in 2024? ›

SNAP Income Limits—Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2024
Household SizeGross monthly income (130% of poverty)Net monthly income (100% of poverty)
1$1,580$1,215
2$2,137$1,644
3$2,694$2,072
4$3,250$2,500
1 more row

Who benefits the most from Medicaid expansion? ›

Expanding Medicaid helps low-income families' health and financial well-being, especially those in which someone has lost a job. In states that expanded Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), unemployed workers experienced large gains in coverage.

What is the income limit for Snap in Oklahoma? ›

Who is eligible for this program?
Household Size*Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
2$26,572
3$33,566
4$40,560
5$47,554
4 more rows

Did Oklahoma Bill 802 pass? ›

Results. The ballot measure passed narrowly, with 50.49% voting in favor to 49.51% voting against. Much of the proposal's support came from Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

What states refused Medicaid expansion? ›

Coverage under the Medicaid expansion became effective January 1, 2014 in all states that have adopted the Medicaid expansion except for the following: Michigan (4/1/2014), New Hampshire (8/15/2014), Pennsylvania (1/1/2015), Indiana (2/1/2015), Alaska (9/1/2015), Montana (1/1/2016), Louisiana (7/1/2016), Virginia (1/1/ ...

What states are easiest to get Medicaid? ›

The top states—ranked from 1 to 10—are Massachusetts, Nebraska, Vermont, Alaska, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and New Hampshire.

Which states use the most Medicaid? ›

California has more Medicaid and CHIP enrollees than any other state in the United States.

What is the maximum income to qualify for Medicaid in Oklahoma? ›

Who is eligible for Oklahoma Medicaid?
Household Size*Maximum Income Level (Per Year)
1$20,030
2$27,186
3$34,341
4$41,496
4 more rows

Is SoonerCare the same as Oklahoma Medicaid? ›

WHAT IS SOONERCARE? SoonerCare is the brand name given to Oklahoma's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a program that covers medical expenses for certain groups of people who have limited income and resources. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is the state agency that administers the program.

What is title 19 in Oklahoma? ›

Medicaid was created as Title XIX of the Social Security Act in1965. It is a federal and state partnership program that makes access to basic health and long-term care services available to those who qualify based upon income and/or other eligibility criteria.

What is the income limit for food stamps in Oklahoma? ›

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Household SizeMaximum Income Level (Per Year)
2$23,803
3$29,939
4$36,075
5$42,211
4 more rows

How do I avoid Medicaid estate recovery in Oklahoma? ›

Sometimes an Oklahoma irrevocable trust protects assets from Medicaid clawback. Generally speaking, if an asset does not count when a Medicaid beneficiary is living because it is not available to them, then it will not be available for clawback upon their death.

Does SoonerCare check income? ›

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority uses a specific method to determine the income and household size for someone applying for SoonerCare, Insure Oklahoma or other programs. This method is called Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).

Is SoonerCare and Medicaid the same thing? ›

WHAT IS SOONERCARE? SoonerCare is the brand name given to Oklahoma's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a program that covers medical expenses for certain groups of people who have limited income and resources. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is the state agency that administers the program.

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