Alarming New Numbers of Uninsured

For Immediate Release

September 16, 2009

New Data Showing Number Of Uninsured Growing Proves Once Again That We Must Pass Heath Insurance Reform Now

Albuquerque, NM - This morning, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Census data showing the number of uninsured is rising. The report states that in 2008 there were 46.3 million uninsured nationwide, up from 39.8 million in 2001.

In New Mexico, alone, there are 468,000 uninsured persons, which has increased from 363,000 uninsured persons in 2001. The percent of non-elderly adults without insurance increased from 27.4% to 31.1%. And this number only considers people who are uninsured for an entire year - it does not include the millions of people in New Mexico who have more recently lost coverage through the recession, or who had shorter gaps in their coverage.

Lack of health insurance is a phenomenon which cuts across socio-economic lines. Health and Human Services estimates that 49,000 high-income New Mexicans are among those without health insurance coverage. Everyone in New Mexico is vulnerable to loss of health insurance in these difficult times.

Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales issued the following statement in response to these alarming statistics:

"These new numbers are yet another important reminder that maintaining the status quo is not an option. There are 468,000 New Mexicans without health insurance and that number will continue to rise if we don't act now. The current health insurance system is simply unsustainable, not only because of the rising number of uninsured, but because of the sky-rocketing costs of health care which are crushing families, businesses and local governments and the instability of the system, which leaves everyone, even people with health insurance, at risk of losing their coverage.

"We need health insurance reform now which gives security and stability to New Mexicans who are insured, provides quality, affordable options for the growing number of uninsured and takes the strain of high health care costs off of families, businesses and government."