Medicaid for the Disabled: A Good Thing

Guida Downtown, Albuquerque

My name is Guida. I live in Albuquerque, NM. I’ve been in New Mexico since 1998. In 2002, I was bitten by a black widow spider which caused a major stroke in my right brain stem. I have to say if it wasn’t for Medicaid services here in NM, I wouldn’t know where I would be today.

I literally, overnight, went from walking, talking, and moving around, to being flat on my back, unable to move, unable to eat, unable to turn on my own. It was a real shock. Anyhow, I remember laying in the ER, feeling like I would never be able to do anything ever again. However,...Read more

Confusion

Al Lucero Jr. Spain St. Albuquerque, NM

I cannot understand the different web sites and how to actually apply for insurance.

There are:

Health Action NM
Centennial Care
Yes! New Mexico
NMHIX

In any case, I cannot log in to Yes! New Mexico. I have been receiving various errors, the website does not recognize my user name or password. It says that I am not a current user, the username already exists, and various other vague "errors" with no explanation. There seems to be no one to contact unless you already have a user name.

Furthermore, I don't know if I am supposed to...Read more

Less than pleased

Melanie Campbell Albuquerque

As a self-employed artist, I have always been able to afford health insurance, albeit a plan with a high deductible. I am a huge supporter of health care reform and am REALLY disappointed to find that my premium is going up by 50% under the Affordable Care Act. I earn too much to qualify for a subsidy and am too old for the "catastrophic" option, but I am by no means rich and I'm wondering why the self-employed are getting stuck with all the costs.

My provider explained that it was because I am part of a small pool. But why do we have to have different pools? Why...Read more

UNM Students Say: You Are Not Alone!

Katie, Jose, Andres, Tino UNM, Albuquerque, NM

On October 2, the day after enrollment started for the new Health Care Exchange in NM, Students at the University of New Mexico seemed a little confused. "It's affordable?" says one student. Although, there seems to be little knowledge on the Medicaid Expansion or the NM Health Care Exchange, students do seem on the right track to understanding how the Affordable Care Act will positively effect their fellow community members.

A group of theatre students stood along the railing of a loading dock just outside of the UNM theatre building and spoke to me about their knowledge of The...Read more

Unisured Rural Theatre Owner

Alessandra Abeyta Rd., Penasco, NM

My name is Alessandra. I am currently 40. I have been in the Penasco area since 2000. I run a theatre here in Penasco. I am uninsured. My kids are insured through Medicaid.

I was insured when I was pregnant, and I was able to stay on Medicaid for a short amount of time. But, then they kicked me off because I made too much money ($200 a week). I was in the process of having dental work done, and I was referred...Read more

The Trust In People

Enselma Vasquez School Road, Penasco, NM

My name is Enselma Vasquez. I have been in this area all my life. Many generations of my family, in fact 300 years, have lived in Northern New Mexico. I’m a Community Health Worker. I help families navigate low-income resources. I’ve only been working here since June. What we are doing now we are trying to support families with low income and single parents and parents that find themselves without a job or without education. We try and give them supportive parenting educations and we navigate resources for them as well.

I’m willing to help anyone I can. I won’t shut the door on...Read more

AIDS Surviver Advocates for ACA

Anonymous Northern, NM

I have been living in Northern New Mexico for the past seven years. But I was born and raised here. I came back for safety. It’s been really hard, it’s been really isolated. But, I’m safe here and I’m happy.

In 1983, I was diagnosed with HIV. I was in California. I moved to LA in 83’. I was in major culture shock. I didn’t know much about what was going on, I was just trying to survive. I tried a different scene and got HIV. 4 months before, I thought I’d move back, because I was having such a hard time in LA. The culture shock was really too much for me. I went out with a guy and...Read more

Community Courage

Claudia King Penasco, NM

My name is Claudio King. I have been in northern New Mexico for 40 years and in the Penasco area for 37. I’m actually retired and I’m going to be 70 years old and I work as a volunteer now. Previously I worked for the Spot for Community Wellness, which was the face of Picuris Penasco Community Coalition, we had a wellness center there in Penasco. We did a lot of work with human services and mental health, agencies, and also...Read more

Helpful ISD Staff Steps Up to the Plate!

Joe Martinez 1711 Randolph, SE Albuquerque

Joe Martinez, HANM’s Education and Outreach Coordinator visited the ISD office at 1711 Randolph SE, ABQ (close to the airport) on October 1. 2013.

Joe says, “The lead staff member, Patricia, was helpful when asked how things are going in enrolling applicants for health coverage. She explained that they are doing enrollment for current Medicaid program, but they can handle new applicants for the Medicaid program that will be part of the Medicaid expansion. She called this category the "other adult program."  She told Joe, "We are using a new application form that came out today. It...Read more

An Insider Look on a local ISD Office

Selena Marroquin-Hardy Rio Rancho, Albuquerque

I spoke with Maria the intake supervisor (very nice lady!). She informed me they have not received training and their computer systems have not been updated to do intake or determination (that won't happen until January). They are telling people about it but there were not any flyers or information around the building about the expansion. Maria told me they are taking people's applications but they really can't help with determination or anything- she didn't even really know the details about who qualifies for what. The office does have the paper applications. They said a few other...Read more