Medicaid/SoonerCare

Medicaid is a public insurance program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals. The program, which was created by Congress in 1965 as Title XIX of the Social Security Act, is operated by the states and funded jointly by the federal government and the states. Income eligibility levels differ based on eligibility categories, which include children, parents of dependent children, adults without dependent children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.

In Oklahoma, the Medicaid program is known as SoonerCare and is operated primarily by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. As of August 2023, SoonerCare’s total monthly enrollment was 1,048,358 people. Of these, just over half (53 percent) were low-income children 18 years and under. Enrollment was down by over 335,000 people compared to April 2023 (1,379,097), as states were required to redetermine eligibility and drop those no longer eligible following the expiration of extended eligibility provisions during COVID-19.

Oklahoma’s total Medicaid spending was $7.82 billion in FY 2022*, with the federal government accounting for $5.98 billion (76.5 percent) of that amount.

(*As of September 2024, OHCA’s most recent annual report was for FY 2022)