By Colin Baillio of Health Action New Mexico and Ana Moran of United States of Care
In Silver City, we met with a local coalition of people who meet regularly to address issues related to poverty in their community. One member talked about her parents struggling to stay insured after they retired. They still have several years before they qualify for Medicare but currently make too much to qualify for Medicaid. This is a gap that many families face, and echoed a story we heard in Deming.
We explained how a Medicaid Buy-in option would improve coverage for families who can’t get job-based insurance so that families who fall into this gap can afford coverage.
We also heard stories about families who missed the limited enrollment period and were locked out of coverage for a whole year. When we said that both states that have implemented a Basic Health Program have opened up enrollment all year around, everyone agreed that this would be a major benefit for New Mexicans.
One local provider spoke up about how low levels of health insurance have kept people from getting regular care, making it hard to keep the doors open at local clinics. When more people are covered, providers are able to get reimbursed for their services and increase their capacity to serve the community.
This provider also told us about the tragic irony that many local health care workers struggle to afford health insurance and some at her clinic have actually had to go uninsured because of insurance costs.
We need to do more for working people who can’t possibly afford what is available right now.
