Legislature passes bill to help uninsured get health coverage
On Wednesday, New Mexico Together for Healthcare, a multiracial campaign of families and community organizations working together to strengthen healthcare access for all of New Mexico’s children and families, celebrated the passage of the Easy Enrollment Act. The bill passed all committees and floor votes unanimously and is now headed to the governor to be signed into law.
HB 95, a priority bill for the governor and NMT4HC during this 30-day legislative session, allows uninsured taxpayers to use their state income tax returns as an easy way to get information on available health coverage plans and to enroll in any plans they are eligible for.
“Easy Enrollment is a simple, straightforward way to help many of the over 200,000 uninsured New Mexicans get the coverage they need to access the care they deserve,” said Gabriella Rivera with Health Action New Mexico. “We applaud Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and bill sponsors Rep. Liz Thomson and Sen. Liz Stefanics for championing this common-sense solution.”
Under the act, a taxpayer would simply check a box on their New Mexico income tax return acknowledging that they or members of their household are uninsured and allow the Department of Human Services to use certain information from their return to determine their eligibility for existing programs.
If HSD determines that a taxpayer or member of their household is eligible for Medicaid, they would follow up with the taxpayer, providing information about Medicaid and, with the taxpayer’s consent, enroll them or the eligible member of their household.
Alternately, if HSD determines that the taxpayer or a family member qualifies for coverage on the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange, BeWellNM, HSD will share the taxpayer’s information with the exchange. The exchange would then contact the taxpayer, explain coverage options and enroll them in coverage, with their consent.
Finally, if a taxpayer is determined to be eligible for the New Mexico High Risk Insurance pool, that taxpayer would then be contacted with information about that program and enrolled if they so choose.
“Too many uninsured New Mexicans don’t know that they are actually eligible for affordable, comprehensive healthcare coverage,” said Nicolas Cordova, an attorney with the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “Easy Enrollment is an effective way to let people know about health coverage options and to get them enrolled. Making healthcare access easier and affordable for all New Mexicans makes sense.”
The governor has until March 9 to sign HB 95.
