Most New Mexicans are not getting the healthcare they need because of high costs and want government action to make healthcare affordable for everyone, according to a new poll released today by NM Together for Healthcare, a statewide campaign of families and community organizations working together across multiracial and geographical communities to strengthen healthcare access for all New Mexicans. The poll found widespread support for affordable health plans offered by the state, including a public option (government-run health coverage) or opening up Medicaid to everyone to buy.
“New Mexicans have spoken. They need affordable healthcare and they want the state government to provide an affordable option for every New Mexican,” said Adriann Barboa, New Mexico policy director of Forward Together.
The poll shows that nearly six in ten (56%) of New Mexicans have sacrificed medical services or medicine in the past two years because of cost.The poll also found that most New Mexicans support reforms to provide affordable healthcare for everyone.
- 72% support a public healthcare option that any New Mexican can buy into. (83% of Democrats support; 72% of Independents support; 57% of Republicans support.)
- 75% support opening up Medicaid so every New Mexican can buy into the program and get affordable healthcare. (85% of Democrats support; 72% of Independents support; 64% of Republicans support.)
“It’s time to act and provide affordable healthcare for all New Mexicans,” said Alex Williams, a healthcare policy advocate at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. “The Legislature has already created a Healthcare Affordability Fund to pay for solutions to our broken healthcare system.”
“These results clearly show that a significant majority of New Mexicans want the state to take innovative measures to provide affordable coverage for every resident,” said Barbara Webber, executive director of Health Action New Mexico.
“We cannot think of having strong and healthy communities if we do not have a health system that gives all New Mexicans the opportunity to have access to one of the most basic needs of a human being,” said Zully Rodriguez-Mejia, a community organizer with Partnership for Community Action.
“We are all healthier when each of us has access to healthcare. Unfortunately, as a physician I’ve seen terrible health outcomes when cost is an insurmountable barrier to healthcare,” said Anjali Taneja, executive director of Casa de Salud clinic in Albuquerque. “Our community has made it clear that they want the government to take action and expand healthcare coverage to all New Mexicans.”
“Healthcare for all is possible in New Mexico. Our state needs to take the lead with bold actions to fix the healthcare system. Tax-paying immigrants and refugees, especially those who are frontline workers, deserve to get affordable health coverage through the Healthcare Affordability Fund.” said Huong Nguyen, New Mexico Asian Family Center’s Community Engagement Director.
The non-partisan research firm PerryUndem developed the poll in conjunction with Betty & Smith, for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and state partners. The poll was conducted by telephone with over 800 New Mexico adults, between January 12 and February 6, 2022.
The complete poll results can be found here: https://nmtogether4health.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NM-Affordability-Report-1.pdf
