Uninsured Augmenting the problems of our excessive disease and death rates is the continuing high number of uninsured people in the state. For those without health insurance, public or private, and with no other means to pay, basic health care is neglected. Often, the uninsured will not seek health care until an emergency occurs or a simple disease becomes serious. When this happens, everyone loses. Our most vulnerable citizens are also our youngest.
Children are at risk for numerous infectious diseases and unintentional injuries.
Poor health care among the young predicts a higher rate of chronic disease among the working adult population. When considering plans for improving Oklahoma's health status, the continued rise of health care costs above the rate of inflation must be considered. This report does not address this issue specifically. This first annual report on The State of the State's Health makes one recommendation. As we approach the new millennium, we recommend th formation of a consortium that would look seriously at the issues raised in this report and from a broad base develop solutions for imporving Oklahoma's health status.