Sarah UNM, Albuquerque, NM created on Fri November 15, 2013

I am the Program Assistance in mentoring and leadership here at the Women’s Resource Center at UNM. I run the IMPACT mentoring project, which is a mentoring program here for young women on UNM’s campus (placing Young Women in leadership roles).

In my personal life, and here in my professional life, I don’t really talk about health coverage with most people. I’m uninsured and have been since I moved here to Albuquerque, to come to school three years ago. I’ve been working restaurant jobs, or office jobs for non-profits, where health coverage just wasn’t an option.

Most of the people I come into contact with in classes or at work have health insurance. Usually they’re young enough to still be on their parent’s insurance, or they have wealthy parents who pay for it even though they are not on their plans. Every time I get sick I think about how I don’t have health insurance.

One thing I wish were happening more was outreach on campus. I haven’t heard of any informational sessions, or tabling events going on here on campus yet.

One great thing for students here at UNM, is that they do have the SHAC, you don’t have to have insurance to go there and office visits are a $20.00 fee.

I want to seek out those options for how to get health coverage. Being that I haven’t had insurance for three years, that sense of security and something to fall back on is what I am looking forward to. Just having that peace of mind.