Nearly Half Of All New Mexico Residents Are Uninsured At Some Point During The Year, Report Finds

About 432,000 New Mexico residents are uninsured for at least six months of the year, according to a study released Thursday by Mathematica Policy Research, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. The study, which was commissioned by the state, is intended to determine which of three models for universal health coverage would provide more state residents with access to health care than the current health care system. The study involved state residents younger than age 65 who were not living in prisons, nursing homes or community group homes.

According to the report, more than half of the state's uninsured population is eligible for public programs, such as Medicaid and SCHIP, but are not enrolled. In addition, fewer employees are enrolling in employer-sponsored health plans, particularly lower-income workers, according to Deborah Chollet, project director for Mathematica. In New Mexico, 42% of residents have employer-sponsored health coverage and 30% are enrolled in public health programs. The state faces greater administrative costs from residents who "churn" in and out of insurance plans, the New Mexican reports. Residents insured for part of the year also are less healthy than those who are insured year-round, according to the New Mexican.

A final report will be presented to Gov. Bill Richardson's (D) Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee by June 21 (Del Mauro, Santa Fe New Mexican, 4/27).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at kaisernetwork/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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