Oklahoma Families for Affordable Health Care

09/15/2026

What does healthcare affordability leadership look like?

Our Healthcare Affordability and Access Leadership Award recognizes legislators who took meaningful action to advance healthcare affordability and access while helping prevent policies that could unnecessarily increase costs or limit choices for Oklahoma consumers.

Do you know an Oklahoma legislator who demonstrated that kind of leadership during the 2026 legislative session?

🏆 Nominate them by October 30.

👉 Submit a nomination: https://www.okfahc.com/post/okfahc-launches-first-ever-healthcare-affordability-and-access-policymaker-of-the-year-awards

For the first time in its history, Oklahoma Families for Affordable Healthcare (OKFAHC) will honor state legislators whose efforts during the 2026 legislative session helped protect Oklahoma consumers from rising healthcare costs.OKFAHC's new Healthcare Affordability and Access Policymaker of the Ye...

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 On September 11, we remember the lives lost and honor the courage of those who ran toward danger to help others.

We are especially grateful for the healthcare workers, first responders, and caregivers who answered the call that day—and for those who continue to care for others in moments of crisis every day.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

09/09/2026

Oklahomans should expect health insurance costs to rise.

A new report from Oklahoma Voice examines the factors behind rising health insurance costs in Oklahoma, including the potential for double-digit premium increases for state employees and other public-sector workers.

Healthcare affordability affects all of us—families, employers, taxpayers and the healthcare system itself.

As costs continue to climb, it's more important than ever to understand what's driving those increases and carefully consider the impact of healthcare policy decisions.

📖 Read the full story from Oklahoma Voice:
https://oklahomavoice.com/2026/08/10/experts-warn-oklahomans-should-expect-health-insurance-costs-to-spike/

As Oklahoma’s state employees face potential double-digit hikes in health insurance premiums, experts are warning that all Oklahomans should brace for a similar shock this year.

09/08/2026

Why do some prescription drugs stay expensive even after the original patent?

A new analysis from Legis1 examines how “patent thickets”—layers of overlapping patents surrounding brand-name drugs—can delay generic competition and keep prices higher for patients.

A peer-reviewed study cited in the article analyzed more than 7.5 million patent applications and found that the average number of patents per active pharmaceutical ingredient nearly tripled between 2001 and 2019.

Competition matters. When affordable generic alternatives are delayed, Oklahoma families, employers and taxpayers can ultimately pay more for prescription drugs.

📖 Read the full article:

Study reveals how brand-name drug makers use patent strategies to raise prices. Learn how this legal tactic affects millions of Americans struggling with...

09/07/2026

🇺🇸 This Labor Day, we’re grateful for the hardworking Oklahomans who strengthen our families, businesses, and communities every day. And to the healthcare workers and caregivers who dedicate themselves to caring for others, thank you for all that you do.

Wishing you and your family a safe and happy Labor Day!

09/03/2026

When healthcare costs limit your choices, that's an affordability problem.

Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. workers say they are staying in a job they would otherwise leave because they're worried about losing their health insurance, according to new research from West Health and Gallup.

That's up from 1 in 6 just five years ago.

As premiums, prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses continue to rise, healthcare costs can affect more than a family's budget—they can affect a person's ability to change jobs and make decisions about their own career.

Healthcare affordability should expand people's choices—not limit them.

📖 Read the Healthcare Dive article:
https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/1-in-5-workers-stay-unwanted-jobs-health-insurance-job-lock-gallup-west-health/825896/

More Americans are keeping jobs they would otherwise leave for fear of losing their insurance, as healthcare costs rise and non-employer coverage seems less affordable, according to a new poll.

09/01/2026

Who deserves recognition for standing up for healthcare affordability and access?

For the first time, OKFAHC will honor Oklahoma state legislators whose actions during the 2026 legislative session helped protect consumers from rising healthcare costs.

🏆 Healthcare Affordability and Access Policymaker of the Year Awards

We're accepting nominations from Oklahoma residents through October 30.

Know a legislator who deserves recognition? Nominate them today.

👉 Learn more and submit a nomination:

For the first time in its history, Oklahoma Families for Affordable Healthcare (OKFAHC) will honor state legislators whose efforts during the 2026 legislative session helped protect Oklahoma consumers from rising healthcare costs.OKFAHC's new Healthcare Affordability and Access Policymaker of the Ye...

08/28/2026

A new law doesn't necessarily mean the full cost of care is covered.

Oklahoma's new cancer screening requirements are intended to expand access to important preventive screenings. But as Oklahoma Voice reports, the details of what patients may actually have to pay aren't as straightforward as they might assume.

That's an important distinction.

Patients may reasonably believe that because a screening is required by state law to be covered, they won't face any out-of-pocket costs. But coverage requirements can be more complicated than they appear—and patients deserve to know what is and isn't covered before they receive care.

Healthcare affordability isn't just about expanding coverage. It's about making sure patients have the information they need to understand their actual costs.

📖 Read the full article from Oklahoma Voice:
https://oklahomavoice.com/2026/08/20/oklahomas-new-cancer-screening-requirement-isnt-as-transparent-for-patients-as-it-should-be/

For a patient with a high risk of a cancer diagnosis, the most frightening part of an extra scan should be the result, not the bill that may arrive weeks later.

08/27/2026

Beyond the music, she was known for her philanthropy, and her support of children’s hospitals, medical research, and community health services touched countless lives. RIP Dolly Parton.

08/26/2026

Health insurance costs are going up.

State leaders have approved HealthChoice premium rates for 2027, setting the stage for increases of 15% to 19%, depending on the plan.

The increases will affect thousands of Oklahomans, including state employees, teachers, local government employees and retirees.

As healthcare costs continue to rise, it is important to understand what is driving those increases—and how policy decisions can affect the cost of coverage for Oklahoma families, employers and taxpayers.

📖 Read the KFOR report:

State leaders approved HealthChoice premium rates today, setting up a 15% to 19% increase for 2027. The exact rate hike will depend on the specific plan selected.