By Juan Vigil and Robin Hunn
Cover the Uninsured Week-N.M.
Once again it is Cover the Uninsured Week, and once again the statistics on the uninsured are dismal— 45 million Americans, more than 400,000 New Mexicans.
The good news is that many more people, including policy makers and elected officials, are more interested in finding major solutions. Businesses are getting weary of health insurance premiums rising each year, employees are feeling the pain of having to pay more out of pocket for health care, the uninsured are accessing care in emergency rooms or not getting care at all, and health care providers are struggling with the financial burden of uncompensated care.
As a result, all the presidential candidates are talking about health care and there seems to be a new general mood across the country that perhaps it is time for a comprehensive solution to one of our nation's toughest problems.
Here in New Mexico, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has formed the Health Coverage for New Mexicans Committee, which is considering three different approaches to the problem. The task force will analyze these approaches during the coming months and present proposals to the 2008 Legislature. This study may change health care in New Mexico.
In the meantime, what can we do now in New Mexico to address the problem? Three steps would go a long way to improving the situation:
Get Kids Covered: Every child who is eligible should be enrolled in Medicaid. There are more than 85,000 children eligible for Medicaid but who are not currently enrolled. Besides the most important goal of having healthy children, Medicaid in New Mexico brings in three federal dollars for every state dollar.
We need to be creative in reaching out to families and eliminating any real or perceived barriers to getting this health coverage. All of us pay for those who are uninsured. If you know any children who are uninsured, have their parents call (866) 901-4538.
Get Workers Covered: We need to get the word out that there are public/private programs for small businesses to cover their employees. Only 54 percent of New Mexico adults get health insurance through their employer— the worst rate in the nation. And these folks who are working but who are not covered by insurance make up a huge proportion of the uninsured in our state.
But we do have programs in place that can change this. We were among the first states to get a federal waiver for an innovative small business coverage program. The State Coverage Insurance program or "SCI" was approved by the federal government in 2002— and implementation began in 2005— but many employers are unaware of the program.
Through our Cover the Uninsured Week activities, we are trying hard to get the word out to small businesses about this program.
Recent expansions of the program by the Legislature mean workers with higher incomes can qualify. For example, a $60,000-a-year employee with a spouse and two children would be eligible. This program also brings in substantial federal matching funds so the program is a great return of investment for New Mexico.
Based on income levels, employers pay a portion of the premium, employees pay a modest portion, and the state and federal government pay the significant part of the cost. It is not just a handout or entitlement program. The premiums to the employers are $75 per employee per month compared to many plans that are three to four times that amount.
The cost to the employee averages $20 per month. It is a bargain compared to most plans and it has good comprehensive coverage.
The state has other new programs for employers and individuals too— call 1 (866) 901-4538 to find out about these options. Healthy employees are more productive employees.
Get Healthy: Finally, we all need to take responsibility for our health. Smoking, obesity, and a lack of exercise are epidemics in our country and contribute heavily to the incidence of chronic disease and associated costs of our health care systems. And these are things we can personally do something about to help control overall health care costs and improve the quality of our lives.
We encourage health plans and employers to implement creative incentive programs for employee wellness. We applaud efforts to eliminate junk food from schools and promote exercise for our children. We ask New Mexicans to do their part in taking personal responsibility for their own health.
Let's do these three things— get kids covered, get workers covered and get healthy— while we anticipate comprehensive state and national solutions.
Juan Vigil is New Mexico chairman for Cover the Uninsured Week, a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, it is supported by a broad coalition of New Mexico organizations. For more information, contact Robin Hunn, robinhunn@comcast.net.
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