Oklahoma Senate Bill 1386, enacted during the 2016 legislative session, was created to explore potential methods to increase healthcare coverage in Oklahoma and reduce the financial burden for Oklahoma residents and employers seeking affordable coverage. The goal is to create an alternative pathway for affordable, high quality healthcare coverage in Oklahoma's commercial insurance market that meets the needs of Oklahomans.  As a result of this legislation, a task force comprised of numerous Oklahoma stakeholders is investigating and analyzing the options for Oklahoma pursuing a 1332 State Innovation Waiver.

The 1332 Waiver task force is exploring what Oklahoma needs to ensure affordable and robust healthcare coverage for its residents and, with public input, decide how best to address our state's needs and whether the development of a 1332 Waiver is advantageous to the state.

Notice of Waiver Withdrawal

Oklahoma has been anticipating Federal approval of the Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver submitted in August to the Secretaries of the US Department of Treasury and US Health and Human Services. The State and Federal departments’ staff previously agreed that waiver approval must be received no later than September 25, 2017, in order to provide adequate timeframes for consumer notices, issuer rate adjustments, and the determination of Federal pass through funding. However, waiver approval was not provided from the Departments by this agreed upon deadline. As a result, the Oklahoma reinsurance program is effectively inoperative for the 2018 plan year. A link to the waiver withdrawal letter is provided below.

Download the 1332 Waiver Withdrawal Notice here:
Oklahoma 1332 State Innovation Waiver Withdrawal

Download the 1332 Waiver Application here: 
Oklahoma 1332 State Innovation Waiver

Download the 1332 Waiver Task Force Concept Paper Here:
Oklahoma 1332 Task Force Concept Paper

The Concept Paper outlines a variety of solutions identified by the State of Oklahoma to stabilize the individual health insurance market.

Additional Reports and Documents

1332 Waiver Task Force Final Report
Download a summary here: Oklahoma 1332 Task Force Final Report - Executive Summary
Download the full report here: Oklahoma 1332 Task Force Final Report

The Task Force Report documents the activities of and data gathered through the Task Force, including modeling for a number of the solutions in the Concept Paper. The report also identifies next steps and operational and policy considerations for these solutions.

Oklahoma Individual Health Insurance Market Profile
This Milliman brief contains information regarding 2015 insurer financials, marketplace enrollment, and the value of federal premium subsidies from 2015 through 2017.

2015 Commerical Health Insurance: Overview of Financial Results
This Milliman research report provides national data about enrollment, premiums, and financial results for individual and group health insurance markets.

Oklahoma Business Study
Download a summary here: Oklahoma Business Study - Executive Summary
Download the full report here: Oklahoma Business Study

The Business Study gathered data from Oklahoma employers to better understand attitudes, perceptions, and barriers related to employee health insurance, workforce readiness, health challenges, and the Insure Oklahoma program. This study updates the State of Oklahoma Business Health and Wellness Survey conducted in 2014 (available below with the December meeting materials).

Oklahoma Consumer Research
Download a summary here: Oklahoma Consumer Research - Executive Summary
Download the full report here: Oklahoma Consumer Research

The Consumer Research examined attitudes, perceptions, and barriers related to choosing and obtaining health insurance coverage among Oklahomans in four main categories: individuals without insurance, individuals who visited healthcare.gov but did not purchase coverage, individuals who purchased coverage on healthcare.gov, and individuals with private/employer-sponsored insurance.

Buffy Heater
Chief of Data, Public Policy and Promotion Officer
Commissioner's Office, Oklahoma State Department of Health
Phone: (405) 271-4200
Email: Buffy@health.ok.gov