Enrollment for Oklahoma's Medicaid expansion begins June 1

Apr. 15—Oklahoma will open enrollment on June 1 for more low-income residents to qualify for Medicaid.

Newly eligible Oklahomans can apply for health care coverage starting a month prior to when the state expands Medicaid on July 1.

Following the passage of State Question 802, Oklahoma will expand Medicaid to Oklahomans ages 19-64 whose income is at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, which is roughly $17,796 for an individual or $36,588 for a family of four.

Roughly 200,000 Oklahomans are expected to sign up for Medicaid coverage under the expansion, said Oklahoma Health Care Authority CEO Kevin Corbett. The agency that oversees the state's Medicaid program, SoonerCare, already administers Medicaid coverage to nearly one million Oklahomans.

Health benefits for newly eligible residents will be the same as current Medicaid recipients.

Oklahoma legislators are still determining how to cover the $164 million annual price tag for the state's share of Medicaid expansion. Overall, the expansion will cost roughly $1.3 billion, with the federal government covering 90% of the costs.

The Health Care Authority, under the direction of Gov. Kevin Stitt, plans to shift on Oct. 1 to a managed care model, in which four major insurance companies will oversee care for most Medicaid recipients.

A key state lawmaker is fighting the Stitt administration's push toward managed care, and a lawsuit regarding the change is waiting to be heard before the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

To apply for Medicaid coverage, visit mysoonercare.org.

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