Easy as Cake and With Tasty Benefits to Boot!

Stephanie Grilo Bernallilo, NM

I had been meaning to apply for Medicaid, myself, for a few weeks now. However, with the first day of open enrollment, followed by a few months of outreach and identifying barriers in the enrollment process in New Mexico, I could hardly find the time to sit down and go through the application process.

I applied this morning at our Health Action office in Bernaillio, NM. I typed www.yes.state.nm.us into my browswer heading and up popped the NM HDS assitance website. I created a login, very simple, and then began the application process. The...Read more

Hope for the Homeless

Juan Lopez Rio Chama, NM

My name is Juan Lopez. I live at Rio Chama. I have not had health insurance for years. The bills I can’t pay, I was homeless there for a while, going through different councelors, they reffered me to El Centro. I finally got off the streets, and got back on Medicare.

I went and signed up today for insurance, for Medicaid, at El Centro. They said I should get a letter for January 1st I believe. I’m feeling positive. It’s great, it’s a real help.

Don't Tip-Toe Around Getting Covered

Molly Hansen Arroyo Seco

My name is Molly Hansen. I live in Arroyo Seco, NM. Before I lived to New Mexico I had Keiser Permanente, I lost my job, and actually because I moved here I lost my Keiser. For the past three years I haven’t had health insurance.

I had broken a toe and it wasn’t getting better, so I had to go in and have that looked at. I thought I had Keiser still, and they actually told me to go in and pay for it, and then I found out that they had pulled my insurance. And so I was left with the bill. The bill for the broken toe was $500. The toe is much better now (haha). I came here today...Read more

Widow Looses Medicare

Terrestia Taos

My name is Terresita. I live in Taos, NM. I am 62 years old. I’ve lived in Taos all my life, since I was born. I’m a widow. I’ve been getting the health coverage, since I started getting my widow disability. My health coverage was with Presbyterian. They sent me a letter saying they were going to take away my Medicare A and B. I go to the doctor’s, I have a very bad leg. They are afraid I’m going to have to have surgery. But, they gave me medication for now.

I was kind of confused. I wanted to know why they took me off Medicare. I wanted to know if I could re-enroll to get...Read more

Small Non-Profit Seeks New Plan

Marcela Diaz Santa, Fe

My name is Marcela Diaz. I direct Somas un Pueblo Unido, we’re a state wide immigrants rights organization and non profit with about 8 employees but only 5 full time employees. We offer health coverage at 80% for full time employees with the exception of a few employees that have been there for more than 10 years, we offer 100%, for our part-time employees we offer 40%. We have a 3 month probation period and so that they can decide if they want to stick with us and we want to stick with them and then we offer them health insurance.

So, we were with Presbyterian for a really long...Read more

High Blood Pressure? No Cost Insurance

Catherine Espanola

My name is Catherine. The good news I got today is that I received my letter of confirmation that I’m going to get into the Centennial Health Care plan.

I haven’t had health insurance for that past four years. It’s been really hard. Everything has been out of pocket; medication, doctors… I’ve tried to avoid doctors because of that.

I have high blood pressure, and it’s very hard to control it, and without insurance the mediations and everything (it’s up to five medications right now) it’s been tough. I need insurance. On average it’s close to $200 a month for both doctors and...Read more

Health Care Guide Gives Us the Inside Scoop

Christine Herrera Santa Fe, NM

My name is Christine Herrera. I do enrollment here at La Familia Medical Center.

Currently we’ve enrolled approximately 95 consumers into Medicaid since October 1. I had one gentleman come in yesterday, completed his application October 16 and by October 25 he had already been approved through the online YesNM. So, it’s kind of neat they are getting a little quicker approvals.

We haven’t accepted any applications for the Exchange yet because of the federal website, but we’ve been giving out a lot a lot of information. And now we’re currently giving out the applications, so...Read more

Medicaid Recepient Re-applies: Fingers Crossed!

Esperanza Dodge Albuquerque

The first time I applied for Medicaid, I'm not really sure why, but I was denied for making too much. I had just graduated college and had a part time job. Then I lost that job, and when...Read more

Girl, Get Covered!

Sarah UNM, Albuquerque, NM

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...Read more

A Mother for Medicaid

Maria Shmitt Tucumcari, NM

I am Maria Shmitt. I live in Tucumcari, NM. I’ve lived here most of my life. My 19 year old daughter’s Medicaid just expired. She has a history of Kidney stones, very large ovarian cysts. She also has issues with asthma and other chronic illnesses. I’m in a panic trying to figure out a way to insure her because of all these medical issues she’s been having. I’m excited that there is going to be a program that’s going...Read more