Fallin Expects Insure Oklahoma To Be Extended
Gov. Mary Fallin expects Insure Oklahoma to continue
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Gov. Mary Fallin said Tuesday that she is optimistic the state will be allowed to continue the Insure Oklahoma program for at least another year.
“I don’t have confirmation totally of this,” Fallin told the Tulsa Regional Chamber, “but I have good word we may get another one-year extension of Insure Oklahoma.”
The state-supported program subsidizes health insurance for low-income workers and small businesses that otherwise would not be able to afford it. It was to be eliminated under terms of the Affordable Care Act, but the federal government allowed it to remain in place after Oklahoma declined the expanded Medicaid program.
Under expanded Medicaid, Insure Oklahoma would have been redundant because its clients would have been covered by either Medicaid or the national health insurance exchanges.
Although facing two primary challengers on Tuesday and two more in the Nov. 4 general election, Fallin is expected to begin a second term in January. She said developing new school academic standards after the repeal of Common Core and addressing prescription drug addiction are among her priorities.