OKLAHOMA CITY - A new law that allows individuals who work for state government to opt-out of their state-funded insurance plan is already showing results.

Up until this year, state employees who already had private health insurance coverage had no choice but to also carry the state of Oklahoma’s plan. State Rep. Dustin Roberts (R-Durant) says his bill passed into law last legislative session changes that practice and has already saved the state more than half-a-million dollars.

Since House Bill 1062 became law at the start of November, 91 people have opted out of state-funded coverage. Although the exact savings won’t be immediately known, Roberts says conservative estimates show a reduction of at least $536,150.

One fiscal analysis estimated between two and five percent of state employees may eventually decide against carrying the state’s insurance coverage.