Governor Henry Signs Bill Strengthening Insure Oklahoma

May 06, 2009 -- Oklahoma City -- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry today signed a measure aimed at strengthening the state’s innovative Insure Oklahoma program. Launched in 2004 as part of the Governor’s healthcare imitative, Insure Oklahoma is a public-private partnership that helps small businesses purchase health insurance for their employees.

Gov. Henry said House Bill 2026, authored by state Rep. Kris Steele (R-Shawnee) and state Sen. Brian Crain (R-Tulsa), helps continue the successes of the nationally lauded program.

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“Far too many Oklahomans are without health insurance, and that is a crisis that impacts us all,” he said. “Insure Oklahoma has made great strides in helping small businesses provide insurance for their employees, and so it’s crucial that we build on and fine-tune this program. I particularly want to commend Representative Steele for his leadership on this critical matter.”

HB 2026 will help increase enrollment in Insure Oklahoma at the point of healthcare service delivery. The bill allows greater flexibility in options for standard health benefit plans.

Under Insure Oklahoma, participating employers and employees pay a portion of their health insurance premiums with the state picking up the rest of the tab. The state pays 60 percent of the cost, employers pay 25 percent and employees pay 15 percent. For every dollar the state invests in the program, it receives approximately two dollars in matching federal money.

Source: Oklahoma Governor