Protecting Access to Healthcare in NM

A majority of Americans say they are worried that they or someone in their family will lose or be unable to afford healthcare coverage if the Supreme Court overturns the Affordable Care Act (ACA)– Obamacare or its protections for people with pre-existing conditions. And New Mexicans are no exception.

In our state alone, it’s estimated over 330,000 New Mexicans under the age of 65 live with pre-existing conditions.

Yet, the Trump administration is arguing in court that the ACA should be overturned, including its preexisting condition protections, premium subsidies to make coverage more affordable, Medicaid expansion, and a host of other provisions. And it is clear a possible court decision to overturn the ACA could produce immediate chaos in the health care system and financial ruin for many Americans.

affordable care act; pre-existing conditions; New Mexico

Fighting for New Mexicans With Pre-Existing Conditions

Thankfully, even if the ACA is dismantled by the Supreme Court, some New Mexico lawmakers put protections for people with pre-existing conditions into state law to shield our working families. The law makes it illegal for any health care insurance company in New Mexico to deny a person health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.

But there’s still more work to do. At the next Legislative Session, NM’s lawmakers will have to put the best of the ACA’s provisions into state law and take action to keep healthcare costs from skyrocketing. Here’s a look at how legislators did on pre-existing conditions in 2019:

affordable care act; pre-existing conditions; New Mexico

The following is a public service by the Trung tâm chính sách dân sự as part of our mission to advocate for issues of vital importance to NM families, educate the community, and keep an accountability record of of how legislators vote. This way, we hope to engage everyday New Mexicans in policy issues that impact their families and communities:

affordable care act; pre-existing conditions; New Mexico

How did legislators vote on Pre-Existing Conditions in 2019?

New Mexico Senate – 2019 Legislative Session:

affordable care act; pre-existing conditions; New Mexico

New Mexico House – 2019 Legislative Session: