Oklahoma is a great place to live for many reasons: a friendly culture, four distinct seasons, a growing economy in energy and aviation, and diverse outdoor recreation. However, not everyone living here has the same fair shot at a healthy life. Depending on where you live or how much you make, staying healthy can feel like an uphill battle.
A new report from Scioto Analysis and presented by This Land takes a deep dive into what would happen to health outcomes if Oklahoma raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The most interesting part? It’s not just about the extra money in your pocket, it’s about focusing on uplifting our rural towns and under-resourced communities.
The “Health Gap” is Real
Right now, there’s a big gap in Oklahoma. If you live in a rural area, you’re 28% more likely to have diabetes than someone living in a big city like Tulsa or OKC. If you’re in a lower-income household, the risk of obesity jumps by a whopping 74%.
It’s not because people in small towns or living on a lower income “don’t care” about their health. It’s because when money is tight, you buy the cheapest food possible, you skip the doctor to save on the co-pay, and the stress of making ends meet can wear on your body..
A Huge Boost for Rural Oklahoma
The report found that while a $15 wage helps everyone, it helps our rural neighbors the most.
The computer models show that if we raise the wage, the drop in the death rate in rural areas would be 41% higher than in the cities. That’s because the impact of that extra income can be felt by more people and fix health problems that hit rural communities the hardest. It means more folks in our small towns getting the care they need before it’s too late.
Breaking the Cycle for Low-Income Families
The study also shows that the biggest winners are the families currently stuck at the bottom of the pay scale. When a family moves from a “just getting by” wage to a “living wage,” the health gap starts to shrink.
By simply having more money for nutritious food, stable housing, and basic medicine, low-income Oklahomans see a massive improvement in their quality of life. In fact, the report estimates that 31,000 more Oklahomans would finally be able to say their health is “good” or “excellent” just by raising the wage.
The Bottom Line
Whether you live in a high-rise in the city or on a farm in the country, you deserve a fair shot at seeing your grandkids grow up.
Raising the minimum wage to $15 isn’t just about the numbers on a paycheck. It’s a way to make sure that being healthy isn’t a luxury reserved for the wealthy. It’s about making sure that every Oklahoman, no matter how much they earn or where they call home, has the resources they need to live a long, healthy life.
Read the full report here.
