Alva Review-Courier -

Oklahoma bucked expectations as enrollment on the federal health-care marketplace climbed to a record level for the upcoming year.

Federal data released Wednesday showed about 150,000 Oklahomans signed up for health care coverage during the 45-day Affordable Care Act enrollment period that ended Saturday. That’s nearly 7 percent higher than last year.

The increase was a relief to health-care providers and advocates who worried that Oklahoma could see an enrollment drop for the second consecutive year.

But the growth may not apply to all areas.

Large swaths of rural Oklahoma were left without a...