New Mexico Health Insurance

How healthy is living in New Mexico?

New Mexico is ranked #31 of the 50 states in the 2009 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of binge drinking – 8
• High school graduation – 42
• Violent crime – 43
• Air pollution – 4
• Lack of health insurance – 49
• Public health funding – 4
• Poor mental health days – 44
• Poor physical health days – 44
• Geographic disparity – 42
• Cardiovascular deaths – 7
• Cancer deaths – 4

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on New Mexico.

Does New Mexico have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool
(505) 622-4711

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, New Mexico will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about New Mexico's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in New Mexico

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in New Mexico and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in New Mexico.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in New Mexico

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for New Mexico.

USNews health insurance rankings for New Mexico

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in New Mexico.

Official State Goverment Sites with New Mexico Health Insurance Information

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Insurance Division – provides convenient access to consumers to reliable insurance products which are underwritten by dependable and financially sound companies. The division strives to ensure that these companies have a proven history of fair and reasonable rates and are represented by trustworthy and qualified agents.

New Mexikids – no cost or low cost health coverage for children under 19 years old. If your household income is less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, health care services are provided to your child at no cost. If your household income is between 185% - 235% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, some of the health care services your child receives may require that you make a co-payment at the time each service is provided.