The nearly 10-year battle to expand coverage now makes 124,000 residents eligible for Medicaid, according to The Oklahoman. The expansion grows the 25 percent of Oklahomans currently eligible for Medicaid to include those who are 138 percent below the poverty line.
Should the expansion cover 200,000 residents or less, it will cost Oklahoma $164 million this fiscal year, according to The Oklahoman. Most of the program’s cost will be cushioned with federal funds.
The expansion efforts were supported by voters in 2020, but only narrowly passed by about 6,500 votes.
As rollout continues, the state’s Health Care Authority will be increasing marketing to encourage those who are newly-eligible for coverage to claim it.
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