Health authority adopts insurance subsidy plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ About 70,000 Oklahomans who currently have no health insurance could get coverage under a plan adopted by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. <br/><br/>Employees of businesses that

Friday, January 14th 2005, 10:07 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ About 70,000 Oklahomans who currently have no health insurance could get coverage under a plan adopted by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.

Employees of businesses that have 25 or fewer employees will be eligible for the ``Premium Assistance Program'' in which the state pays 60 percent of the insurance premium. The business would pay 25% of the premium and the employee pays the remaining 15%.

Employees of businesses that don't take part in the program will be allowed to use a subsidy to buy into health insurance programs available to state employees.

The $150-million program is to be funded with $50-million from the increased tax on tobacco and an expected $100-million in federal matching funds.

Health officials say more than 660,000 Oklahomans have no medical insurance.