Governor Brad Henry eyes expanded health care coverage

Expanding health care coverage to Oklahomans will be one of the top goals of Governor Henry in 2004.<br><br>Henry's plan would qualify Oklahomans who make too much money to receive Medicaid benefits

Sunday, November 9th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Expanding health care coverage to Oklahomans will be one of the top goals of Governor Henry in 2004.

Henry's plan would qualify Oklahomans who make too much money to receive Medicaid benefits but not enough to afford health care insurance.

Henry told the Associated Press that something needs to be done to bridge the health care gap. About 20 percent of Oklahomans have no health care insurance -- a fact that drives up health care costs for everyone else.

Henry says the program is still being developed and several options are being considered, such as rationing benefits to cover more Oklahomans.

The governor says he hopes that federal matching dollars can be obtained for the program.