Resolution in Support of the New Mexico Health Security Act
WHEREAS The League of United Latin American Citizens is the nation's oldest and largest Latino membership organization and since its inception has fostered
higher education, well-being and advancement of all Hispanics at all levels and
facets of our American society and,
WHEREAS, Hispanics, as do all Americans have a right to quality, affordable health care and,
WHEREAS premiums continue to escalate, co-payments keep increasing, the cost of pharmaceutical drugs is rising, and increasing numbers of employers are no longer able to afford to offer their employees access to health insurance and,
WHEREAS the state of New Mexico has the highest proportion of workers in the
United States without healthcare insurance (28.1 % of residents under 65) and,
WHEREAS the federal government had been remiss in its responsibility to solve
the health care crisis and President Obama, against what appeared to be
insurmountable odds, began the arduous process in the form of the Affordable
Health Care Act (ACA) and,
WHEREAS the ACA was deemed to be in harmony with the Health Security for
New Mexicans Act by its campaign Executive Committee (with the caveat
respecting the private insurance exchanges)
WHEREAS the ACA law requires that the states install private insurance exchanges
to cover the eligible uninsured and small business owners through subsidies and
tax credits to cover premiums and,
WHEREAS, the New Mexico LULAC wishes for New Mexico to avoid the situation of the state of Massachusetts, which now has the highest average family premiums in the nation and was forced to cut back on education and other services after implementing their own insurance exchange plan and,
WHEREAS states may avail themselves of waivers that allow them to create their own alternative to the exchanges after the year 2017 ( several-states are pushing for an amendment to remove this date) and,
WHEREAS THE HEALTH SECURITY ACT enables New Mexico to establish its own health care plan, like a cooperative, that guarantees quality, affordable health coverage, freedom of choice of provider and comprehensive services, regardless of age, employment, or health status and,
WHEREAS two New Mexico studies, commissioned by the legislature, one
conducted recently showing and one in 1994, show that placing most New
Mexicans in one health risk pool, as the Health Security Act proposes, will
substantially reduce health care costs, unlike other models that rely on the
private insurance system and,
WHEREAS there is little support for maintaining the private insurance system and a ground swell of support for the Health Security Act with 147 diverse New
Mexico organizations and 32 counties cities and municipalities endorsing the
Health Security Act; a system that shifts the role of private insurance to a
supplemental one and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE NEW MEXICO LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS URGE THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS AND THE GOVERNOR SIGN THE NEW MEXICO HEALTH SECURITY ACT DURING THE 2013 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
Approved this 30th day of June 2012.
Margaret Moran
LULAC National President