Lookbook Vol. 2
DEFINITION
The percent of women who report being unable to see a doctor due to cost reported in 2019. 19
OKLAHOMA 18.3 percent
NATIONAL AVERAGE 14.6 percent
Unable to See Doctor Due to Cost Data Highlight: As of 2017, 30 percent of Oklahomans reported having unpaid medical debt, the eighth-most indebted state in the nation. 20
Why We Care: Many Oklahoma women are uninsured or underinsured and unable to afford regular medical care. Presently, very defined groups of women have access to Oklahoma’s Medicaid (SoonerCare), insurance Marketplace vouchers, and a small number of free clinics in urban areas. While some women who meet income requirements can access these services, there is excessive red tape making it difficult for all women to access that care. Further complicating matters, rural Oklahoma clinics and hospitals have closed en masse, making the already burdensome cost of seeking medical care more burdensome due to increased transportation requirements.21 In addition to affordability, women often lack time and flexibility to access a consistent provider. When surveyed, 24 percent of women said that they didn’t see a doctor because they couldn’t find the time, and for low-income women this number rose to 34 percent.22 What We Can Do: - Support organizations engaged in the implementation of Medicaid expansion - Explore innovative primary care practices such as Telemedicine
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