Number of uninsured Oklahomans grows [Tulsa World, Okla.]

Aug. 29--The number of Oklahomans under the age of 65 who didnt have health insurance increased by more than 4,000 in 2011 compared to the previous year, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report issued Thursday.

Because the number of residents in that age group increased in the state, the overall rate of uninsured did not change significantly, declining from 21.9 percent in 2010 to 21.8 percent in 2011, according to the Bureaus annual Small Area Health Insurance Estimates report.

Nationwide, state-level uninsured rates for the population under age 65 ranged from Massachusetts' rate of 4.9 percent to Texas' rate of 25.7 percent. Four states outranked Oklahoma in the number of uninsured residents under 65.

In Tulsa County, the news was somewhat better. The uninsured rate and the number of uninsured residents in the under age 65 population both saw declines over the prior year.

The number of Tulsa County residents under the age of 65 without health insurance declined by 1,455 to 112,949. The county-level uninsured rate also declined from 21.8 percent in 2010 to 21.4 percent in 2011.

However, the state rate of uninsured in the age 50 to 64 population increased 10 percent to 18.3 percent in 2011 from 17 percent in 2010. An estimated 131,371 Oklahomans age 50 to 64 had no health insurance, according to the report. The age group 50 to 64 is more likely to consume health care compared to younger age groups.

In all states, minorities had higher uninsured rates compared to non-Hispanic whites.

In Oklahoma, 17.7 percent of non-Hispanic whites under age 65 were uninsured, a decline from 18.1 percent in 2010. In 2010, 377,912 non-Hispanic whites were uninsured compared to 369,065 in 2011.

The state uninsured rates for non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics were 23.8 percent and 38.8 percent respectively.

The number of uninsured Hispanics under the age of 65 increased by 7 percent, while the number non-Hispanic blacks increased by 3 percent.

Low-income groups had higher uninsured rates compared to the overall population.

The uninsured rate in Oklahoma among the population under age 65 with family incomes less than or equal to 138 percent of the poverty threshold remained relatively stable at 35.3 percent compared to 35.2 percent in 2010.

In most states, males had higher uninsured rates that females and Oklahoma was no exception. In Oklahoma, 22.9 percent of males under the age of 65 were uninsured compared to 20.7 percent of females.

Working-age adults were more than twice as likely to be uninsured compared to children in the state. In 2011, 26.3 percent of the 18 to 64 age population were uninsured, a decline from 26.7 percent in 2010.

About 11.4 percent of Oklahoma children under age 19 were uninsured, an increase from 10.5 percent in 2010. An estimated 110,603 Oklahoma children did not have health insurance in 2011, according to the report.

The state has rejected an expansion of Medicaid that is part of the Affordable Care Act that would provide health insurance to some of the state's poorest residents. A state program called Insure Oklahoma that provides insurance to lower-income residents is set to end Dec. 31.

Gov. Mary Fallin has said the state is negotiating with the federal government to continue the program but federal officials have so far refused to do so.

Read the complete story in Friday's Tulsa World.

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