Okla. uninsured rate ranks high again

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  • Healthcare Coverage in Oklahoma
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OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma had the second-highest percentage of residents in the nation without any health insurance last year for the second consecutive year, trailing only neighboring Texas, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released Tuesday.

Census research indicated 14.3% of Oklahomans had no health insurance in 2019, a slight uptick from the 14.2% rate of 2018. In a regional comparison: The uninsured rate in Texas last year was 18.4%, up from 17.7% the year before but an improvement over its 23.7% rate in 2017. Arkansas’ uninsured rate last year was 9.1%; Kansas, 9.2%; New Mexico and Missouri, 10% each. After years of waiting for the Legislature to provide some sort of health-care relief, Oklahomans passed State Question 802 on June 30.

That constitutional amendment extends Medicaid coverage to approximately 200,000 low-income adults, ages 19-64, who have an estimated annual income of $16,970 for an individual or $34,846 for a family of four. The expanded Medicaid program is scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2021.

ALMOST 69K IN SW OK ENROLLED IN SOONERCARE

In July 2020 (the latest month for which statistics are available), 877,492 Oklahomans were enrolled in SoonerCare, Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, Oklahoma Health Care Authority ledgers reflect. Of that number, 65% were children 18 or younger and 35% were adults. SoonerCare enrollment in southwest Oklahoma in July numbered:

• 25,417 in Comanche County (62% of them children).

• 1,361 in Cotton County (61% children).

• 5,451 in Jackson County (61% children).

• 1,820 in Jefferson County (58.7% children).

• 2,583 in Kiowa County (55% of them children).

• 10,758 in Stephens Coun- ty (58% children).

• 1,970 in Tillman County (59% children).

• 9,317 in Grady County, 7,927 in Caddo County, 1,462 in Greer County, and 854 in Harmon County.

LEGISLATORS STUDY WAYS TO REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS

The Insurance Committee in the Oklahoma House of Representatives recently held an interim study to review ways to lower the cost of health insurance, save money and improve efficiency in health insurance.

Representatives of Strategic Cost Containment Concepts (SCCC), powered by AmWINS, presented RX Interceptor & Pharmacy Rebates, a proprietary program to provide significant savings to the state in prescriptions and medical care.

The RX Inceptor Program purportedly helps reduce prescription claims spending by 30% to 50%, said state Rep. Lewis Moore, R-Edmond, who requested the interim legislative study. The group works with pharmaceutical advocates to help eligible individuals qualify for savings on high-cost specialty medications. “They say that up to 100% of the drug rebates, built-in stop-loss, and a full annual Pharmacy Performance Audit can account for savings to the state,” Moore said.

SCCC “has shown it can return large savings through this proprietary program and guarantee contracts to return money to the state that it would not otherwise receive,” Moore continued. “They say they can implement the program with little or no interruption in service to state employees and other insureds.” 

When coupled with Prime-Care Indemnity, which provides direct primary care and urgent care services, a rough estimate of approximately $111 million a year in guaranteed savings for three years is projected, Moore said, “premised upon reviewing current data to ensure accuracy.” Significant tax savings are available to employers and employees, and unlimited $10 doctor visits are key features of the wellness plan, Moore said.

An alternative health care plan was presented that provides a national PPO network for a cost reduction of up to 35% or more. “The private and public sectors can utilize this plan that includes built-in dental and vision coverage,” Moore said.

“The State of Oklahoma is projecting a billion-dollar-plus budget deficit next year, and we are thankful that innovative companies have approached us to help better our state,” Moore said. “A savings plan to streamline processes and save the Oklahoma Health Care Authority more than $661 million is waiting to be acted upon.”

Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, is a member of the House’s Insurance Committee.

26M AMERICANS HAD NO HEALTH INSURANCE

The Census Bureau reported that 92% of all Americans had health insurance coverage at some point during 2019, but 26.1 million people were uninsured for the entire calendar year.

More people had private health insurance than public coverage. Employment-based insurance was the most com- mon subtype of health insurance, with 56.4% of people holding this type of coverage in 2019. About 10.2% of Americans held direct-purchase health coverage, and 2.6% were covered through TRICARE (for military personnel and their families).