Thousands of Oklahomans still eligible to register for expanded medicaid

Listen to this article here

Sign-Up for a free subscription to The Black Wall Street Times‘ daily newsletter, Black Editors’ Edition (BEE) – our curated news selections & opinions by us for you.

More and more Oklahomans will have health care starting July 1, thanks to overwhelming registrations for the Oklahoma Medicaid expansion. The program, which was approved by voters through State Question 802, will allow an additional 200,000 Oklahoma residents access to SoonerCare 2.0 health insurance. 

So far, over 120,000 Oklahomans have signed up online. However, many more citizens and residents who are eligible who have not yet registered for the expanded Medicaid. Oklahomans are being urged to check online if they are eligible.

According to Melissa Richey, Chief Communications Officer for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, “There are so many Oklahomans out there who don’t realize they qualify. These are college students who are going to school right now who may not have any insurance at all, and they qualify for these benefits. If you even think you qualify, go ahead and go through the process.” 

Many Oklahomans still eligible to register

Income requirements for the new expanded SoonerCare 2.0 are 138% of the federal poverty level, or $18,000 for an individual. A family of four can make up to $36,500 and still qualify for the Medicaid program. 

The new expanded Medicaid is a huge boon for citizens. Of the 200,000 Oklahomans now eligible to sign up, “they’ll be able to call the doctor when they have a cough or if they have a child who isn’t feeling well, and the family needs to have benefits. It’s a huge, huge opportunity for them,” continued Ms. Richey. 

Kevin Corbett, CEO of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority echoed Ms. Richey’s comments, stating, “We look forward to welcoming and serving these new members on SoonerCare, and helping Oklahoma become a Top 10 state for positive health outcomes.” Oklahoma currently ranks #48 in the country across health factors, including access to health care, and preventative services. Expanding Medicaid is one way to address these glaring issues that face Oklahomans. 

To register online, go to MySoonerCare or call 1-800-987-7767. Information on applications and answers to frequently asked questions are available in both English and Spanish.