Oklahoma’s legislative health care working group asked for clarity this week around expanding Medicaid.
Co-chair Sen. Greg McCortney said he’d heard claims expansion through a proposed state question would cover as many as 600,000 people. Oklahoma Deputy Secretary of Health Carter Kimble said the actual number is around 216,000.
"That number is more of a framework and less of a, 'This is my guess of who would come on if the state were to expand Medicaid.' No state has had 100% take up, even the states who were early adopters," Kimble said.
That group is split between about 111,000 uninsured Oklahomans who would be newly eligible for Medicaid, Oklahomans with coverage through the federal insurance marketplace who would start qualifying for Medicaid under higher income limits and currently eligible people who might enroll because of newfound awareness.
Some of the newly eligible with coverage may give up private insurance to do so. Kimble said that’s not a sign of trouble; it has to do with the federal marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act.
"That move is a product of the fact that you’re no longer eligible for the tax credit, not a product of employers dropping coverage. Other states haven’t seen the employers wholesale leaving the private market," Kimble said.
Eligibility for marketplace subsidies begins at 100% of the poverty level.
Working group Co-Chair Rep. Marcus McEntire wanted to confirm how the state can capture nine-to-one federal matching funds. Kimble said lawmakers could expand the state Medicaid program so people earning up to 138% of the poverty level are eligible.
"I can safely say, from the governor’s perspective, that is not an option in this state. But, yes, I would agree … that you can take Medicaid funds and utilize them for different coverage options," Kimble said.
Some lawmakers have proposed pursuing enhanced Medicaid funds to expand a state program subsidizing the purchase of private insurance.
