Esperanza Dodge - Albuquerque, NM

Esperanza is a working mother whose son has chronic asthma. She and her son were on Medicaid, but had to transition at the end of 2013. “It's been really helpful for me, because as a mother and as a woman, I'm able to provide for myself and get myself checked up, and anything that is healthcare related I know that I can cover it.”

Levi Casas - Mesilla Park, NM

Levi did not have health insurance to cover his chemotherapy treatments. On October 1, 2013 Levi showed up to an ISD office in southern New Mexico to get enrolled for Medicaid.

Alessandra - Penasco, NM

We talked to Alessandra in the fall. “I would love to enroll in Medicaid. I don’t know how to enroll. I need some help finding out how to enroll.”

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Governor Martinez agreed to expand Medicaid in New Mexico in 2013, and it went into effect on January 1, 2014. Great! But for the average New Mexican, what does that even mean?

If you were like me 6 months ago, Medicaid was like a distant cousin I’d only heard about through conversations over tea and a fruit cake with my Great Aunt Marie. And for all I knew, FPL could have meant Frosting Pie Lovers. What expanded, then? And how does it affect you, or me, or your neighbor in apartment C who's always getting hurt doing the darndest things - insert warning label here.

Here’s the skinny.

Eligibility will now be primarily based on income, rather than on the multiple eligibility categories that were used before. That’s the FPL I mentioned, which actually stands for “Federal Poverty Level.” FPL is a way to measure people’s income levels. Single, childless adults are now be able to get Medicaid if they have an FPL below a certain percentage. This has never happened before in New Mexico!

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Well, Shucks, how do I know if I make too much or just the right amount to qualify for Medicaid?” The qualifying FPL for a household of one is now equal or lesser than $1,323 per month or $15,856 per year.  

Imagine the many New Mexicans Medicaid serves now!