Feds Say 346 Oklahomans Enroll For Health Insurance

Federal officials say 346 Oklahomans enrolled for health insurance last month by using the web site for the Affordable Care Act.

The figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were even lower than recent estimates for the 36 states, including Oklahoma, that are using the federal insurance exchange.

The statistics show nearly 7,000 Oklahomans completed applications for health insurance coverage for policies to cover more than 14,000 individuals.

It's estimated as many as 250,000 Oklahomans are eligible for tax subsidies to purchase policies through the exchange.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - November Enrollment Report

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin says the problems show the Affordable Care Act web site is unworkable.

"It is embarrassing that the Obama Administration cannot produce a functional web site, especially when so many individuals are relying on that site to purchase health insurance for themselves or their families,' said Governor Fallin.

"Many of the people who are losing coverage are sick. In Oklahoma, for example, there are over 800 men and women with preexisting health conditions enrolled in the temporary high risk pool. All of them will lose their coverage by the end of the year. If the exchange is not functioning properly by December, they will find themselves uninsured. These are the people who most need our assistance, and yet they are being left high and dry by the incompetence of this administration."

HealthCare.gov has had problems since it went live October 1, but administration officials have said the web site will be running smoothly for the vast majority of users by November 30.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.