Tag: uninsured

What’s unaffordable?

In her 2013 State of the State address, Governor Mary Fallin reiterated her opposition to accepting federal dollars to provide coverage to uninsured Oklahomans through Medicaid, as provided under the Affordable Care Act. In states that extend Medicaid, the federal… Read more [More...]

Where the Affordable Care Act fits into the gun control debate

Since the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the debate surrounding gun violence, gun control, and mental health has gained renewed prominence. Last month, President Obama laid out proposals to reduce gun violence which include increasing access to mental… Read more [More...]

Guest Blog (Camille Landry): Stayin’ alive

Camille Landry is a writer, activist, and advocate for social justice who lives in Oklahoma City. This is the first in a series, “Neglected Oklahoma”, focused on Oklahomans who find themselves in a position where the basic necessities of life… Read more [More...]

What Governor Fallin’s healthcare decisions mean for Oklahomans

Just before Thanksgiving, Governor Mary Fallin announced a pair of important decisions related to the Affordable Care Act. She said that Oklahoma would not participate in the expansion of Medicaid for low-income adults and would not create its own state-based… Read more [More...]

How medical debt erodes Oklahomans’ financial security

Medical debt is money owed for medical goods or services, like doctor’s visits, lab fees, or hospital stays.  One survey of low-income households in eight states, including Oklahoma, found that 46 percent of low-income households carried medical debt.  National survey… Read more [More...]

Leadership urged to reconsider Medicaid expansion decision

In a letter from its Board of Directors, Oklahoma Policy Institute has urged Governor Fallin and legislative leaders to reconsider the Governor’s decision not to participate in the expansion of Medicaid for uninsured low-income adults. “The practical benefits of accepting… Read more [More...]

Wrong Number: Medicaid cost estimates are exaggerated and misleading

In announcing her decision not to participate in the expansion of Medicaid for low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act, Governor Mary Fallin asserted: Expanding Medicaid as written in the [Affordable Care Act] would cost the state of Oklahoma as… Read more [More...]

STATEMENT: Governor’s decision not to join Medicaid expansion is deeply troubling

Governor Fallin’s decision not to expand the Medicaid program to cover uninsured low-income adults is deeply troubling and unfortunate, putting politics over the interests of Oklahomans. Read more... [More...]

New Census data shows many still left out of Oklahoma's prosperity

Almost 1 in 4 Oklahoma children lived in families that fell below the poverty line in 2011, according to new Census Bureau data released today. The poverty rate for Oklahomans under 18 was estimated at 23.0 percent in 2011, an… Read more [More...]

Avoiding the Medicaid 'coverage crater'

When Congress approved a prescription drug benefit for the Medicare program in the mid-2000s, it created the infamous ‘Medicare donut hole‘ – a large gap in coverage of prescription drug costs. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the landmark health care… Read more [More...]