Newly Eligible Oklahomans Continue To Sign Up For SoonerCare

More than half of the estimated 200,000 newly eligible Oklahomans who qualify for Medicaid have now signed up.

The agency which manages it says they're starting an outreach campaign to help more people. The Oklahoma Healthcare Authority says a little more than 117,000 Oklahomans have now signed up for Medicaid since June 1st. This comes after Oklahomans voted to expand Medicaid last summer, which broadens eligibility requirements.

The OHCA says the majority of new sign-ups are Oklahomans already in the system who now qualify.  A lot of those are Oklahomans who are now 19 years old and new mothers. The department says they're also seeing an increase in sign-ups because of increased awareness, as part of a campaign to reach more.

23 organizations that partner with the OHCA are now trained to help Oklahomans sign up.

The department is also keeping track of demographic information for new sign-ups. 64% of those who've signed up are women snd 57% are under 35 years old.

To be eligible, your income has to be below 18,000 dollars a year, or 36,500 for a family of four.

Benefits for new sign-ups start on July 1st.