Governor Mary Fallin Announces Extension Of Insure Oklahoma

Governor Mary Fallin announced Oklahoma has been granted a one-year extension for the Insure Oklahoma program. The program has been extended through December 31, 2015. It was scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

Insure Oklahoma provides health insurance for almost 19,000 working, low-income Oklahomans and serves around 4,280 small businesses. The program is funded by the state's tobacco tax matched with federal dollars. This is the second time the program has been given an extension in less than a year.

"This is great news for the thousands of adults and children who currently buy health insurance through Insure Oklahoma," said Fallin. "These Oklahomans and their families can now be assured that they won't lose their insurance on January 1."

9/6/2013 Related Story: Governor: Feds Give Insure Oklahoma One-Year Extension

Fallin said her administration will continue to work with federal leaders to make the program permanent.

"The staff at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) wants to express their thanks to Governor Fallin for her support and assistance in negotiations with the federal government to keep the Insure Oklahoma program available," said OHCA Chief Executive Officer Nico Gomez. "This extension gives us solid hope that the federal government views the program as favorably as we do and allows us to maintain it on a permanent basis. We encourage small businesses and their employees to investigate Insure Oklahoma when they shop for affordable health insurance."

Voters in 2004 approved a ballot measure to help pay for the program through tobacco taxes.

Click here for more information on Insure Oklahoma.