By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – Okla. Senate Democrats to discuss infant insurance
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Democrats in the Oklahoma Senate plan to discuss the state Insurance Department's role in a recent decision by health insurers to deny coverage for newborns.
The Insurance Department says the federal health care overhaul law approved by Congress in 2010 created conditions that killed the child-only insurance market in Oklahoma and at least 16 other states where every health insurance company stopped selling new policies for individual children.
In December, Gov. Mary Fallin signed an emergency rule that restored "child-only" health insurance plans for Oklahoma youths aged 1-19 whose parents or guardians wish to purchase new policies for kids not covered by family plans or Medicaid. But it does not cover infants under 1.
Senate Democrats plan to suggest possible solutions at a Thursday news conference at the state Capitol.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.