The Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA) is encouraging Oklahomans without insurance coverage to sign up for SoonerCare, saying the expanded Medicaid coverage will provide access to essential medical and dental care for individuals who previously could not afford coverage.

Applications for expanded SoonerCare opened June 1 and can be completed online at MySoonerCare. org or by phone at 1-800- 987-7767.

“Medicaid expansion will provide general health care services for even more Oklahomans,” said Dr. Chris Fagan, current president of the ODA. “What has not been discussed enough is the access to additional services, including dental care. We believe there is likely a significant backlog of patients who have avoided seeing a dentist because they feared the cost of receiving services. Medicaid expansion should allay those fears.”

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has estimated that approximately 200,000 additional Oklahomans are eligible for Medicaid coverage following the 2020 passage of State Question 802.

Since June 1, 51,708 individuals have been approved for benefits, according to OHCA.

The expanded Medicaid program is available to adults ages 19-64 with an income level equivalent or less than $17,796 for a single adult or $36,588 for a family of four.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision Tuesday, ruling the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) overstepped its authority by outsourcing the state’s Medicaid program following the passage of State Question 802.

However, expanded Medicaid is now available to be run by OHCA, which opened enrollment this week.

“The Supreme Court this week ruled that the Managed Care plan is unconstitutional, but Medicaid expansion was approved by voters and is now the law of the land,” said Lynn Means, executive director, Oklahoma Dental Association. “We are pleased with the Supreme Court ruling, as we believe it protects patients by ensuring that decisions about their care are made between physician and patient – not by insurance companies.”