say it isn't so!

karin retskin Campus blvd. Albuquerque, NM

I am a UNM retiree and on Medicare. I have been watching the news on ACA with great interest. I am interested on how all the new programs are going to play out. I am very thankful that this new law has gone into effect and many of my New Mexico neighbors can finally get health coverage. I also have been aware that as a Medicare recipient that I am ineligible and that is fine. (Editor's note: Some, but not all, Medicare recipients are actually also eligible for Medicaid services.) Medicare has served me well.

However, I thought the ACA would not impact me, but I just received my new...Read more

Current Medicaid Recipient

Stella Silver Avenue, Albuquerque

Stella, a current student at UNM and mother of a 6 year old, is a recipient of Medicaid. Although, Stella didn't always have health insurance. When Stella received summer employment this year she was kicked off of Medicaid, however that employer did not provide health coverage to their employees. Stella quickly found herself without any medical insurance.

Her daughter shortly thereafter came down with the chickenpox. Stella had to, "bite the bullet," and take her daughter in to UNM urgent care and payed out of pocket for those services.

Because the UNM fall semester began,...Read more

UNM Student Shares His Story for All to Hear

Nathan Lihte Carlisle Avenue, Albuquerque

I am currently a student at the University of New Mexico. Born and Raised. I do have health insurance right now. I ugh, receive it through my parents. Receiving health insurance has been a huge benefit over the last year. I bet, last fall, fall of 2012I began to have some health issues that required some medical attention. A number of tests that would normally cost a lot of money; a few visits to the emergency room, and etc. That if I hadn’t had health insurance for all these I would have been in debt 10’s of thousands of dollars probably and certainly would have had to drop out of school...Read more

A Veteran Without Dental Coverage

Eric Cortez Las Vegas, NM

Eric Cortez and his four friends attended the 2013 Mission of Mercy in Farmington, NM on September 13, 2013. After a long day of waiting in a mud filled parking lot (there had been a bad storm the night before) Eric left the free dental clinic estactic to have had a root canal done. He then waited the rest of the day until each of his friends came out of the dental clinic having had free care done.

Eric sees a dentist in Las Vegas, NM but he has to pay out of pocket each time because, "VA benefits do not cover my dental." He expressed that he often times has to pay close to $400.00...Read more

What's an Immigrant to Do?

Lucia Huitron Aztec, NM

Lucia Huitron is a current resident of Aztec, NM. She is originally from Mexico City, where her mother currently lives. Her mother was diagnosed with skin cancer a few years ago, but Lucia’s mother could not get on Medicaid or Medicare in the United States because of her immigrant status.

Lucia’s mother had no other option than to move back to Mexico City. Lucia often visits her mother in Mexico City, however she did express a desperate want to live closer to her mother to take care of her.

Lucia also takes trips to Mexico City herself to get cheaper dental and health care;...Read more

The Lone Ranger: A Man Without Coverage, Access, or Care

Randy C. Groom Aztec, NM

 

Randy currently lives in Aztec, NM. He heard about Mission of Mercy on the local radio. Randy has not seen a dentist since 1971. When Randy was in the Marine Core it took four trips to his Navy Dentist to get one root canal. Needless to say, Randy told Danielle, he has felt pretty jaded by this negative dental experience.

Randy...Read more

Small Law Firms, Small Coverage

Clarissa Constitution, Albuquerque

My name is Clarissa and right now I am trying to start a business as an artist. Right now um, all I have is UNM cares and Indian Health Services. Which is better than it would be if I didn’t qualify for IHS. My husband actually is working for a small law firm, he has health care coverage through his job. And the job I had before this, I had health care coverage, for both of us. My job before this was actually as a social worker for Head Start. So when I stopped working, I had a good idea of what was available. But, its rough. Cuz like, I have…my primary care doctor is through First...Read more

Day One Success!

Bebe Stanley, NM

On October 1, 2013 Bebe, from Stanley, NM drove an hour to the closest ISD office to get enrolled in the new Medicaid Expansion. Bebe had to wait an hour and a half to see a case worker, who she described as being very nice and helpful in receiving all of Bebe's necessary documents and Medicaid application.

Bebe remains slightly unclear on wether or not she is eligible for Medicaid and, "what the next steps are."

In regards to the Medicaid application process, Bebe was told by case workers at the ISD office, "they would correct the "system" between October 15 and November 2...Read more

Day One of Enrollment No Shows

Joseph Pecos, NM

Joseph and his wife have been uninsured for a long while. Joseph had a good job with IHS, but now he has been unemployed for 4-5 years.

He saw on the news to get enrolled for Medicaid at an ISD office. When he showed up on October 1, 2013 to the ISD office in Santa Fe, no one was there to assist him. He was hoping to get more information right then and there because he drove all the way from Pecos, NM. Joseph drove back to Pecos with no information on how to get new health coverage.

The tooth infection is making me deaf

Jeremy Bernalillo, NM

I have a tooth cracked in half and the bottom part of the molar has fallen off. The infection has traveled up into my upper jaw and the infection is actually behind my eardrum. I can’t hear anything but ringing out of it. But honestly I don’t have $200. Not for that. It is overwhelming. And I don’t see a way out. I honestly don’t.Read more