More People Have Health Insurance in Oklahoma but Uninsured Rate Still High

A new federal study shows the number of Oklahomans without health insurance has fallen by 6 percent since 2010, but the state still has one of the highest percentages of uninsured residents in the country.

The study released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau shows 13.9 percent of Oklahomans went uninsured in 2015, down from 18.9 percent in 2010. The decline means an additional 192,000 Oklahomans received health insurance coverage over the five-year period.

Oklahoma is one of five states with an uninsured rate of 13 percent or more in 2015. Others include Alaska, Florida, Georgia and Texas. The study shows Texas had the highest uninsured rate at 17.1 percent, while Massachusetts had the lowest at 2.8 percent.

Oklahoma is one of 19 states that has not expanded Medicaid.