Health Care

How many Oklahomans are enrolled in Medicaid?

September 28, 2020

Kaitlyn Finley

The number of people enrolled in Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, SoonerCare, has increased substantially over the last two decades.

Medicaid is a medical welfare program set up by the federal government but run by the states. It is funded in part by the federal government and in part by the state government.

According to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, enrollment in this state medical welfare program has more than doubled in the last 20 years—increasing from 490,282 in 1999 to 998,209 in 2019.

That means that more than 25 percent of all Oklahomans receive Medicaid services.

Total Medicaid enrollment in 2020 is likely to be higher due to economic fallout related to the coronavirus and the decline in the oil and gas industry.