NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – More than 20% of New Mexicans depend on SNAP benefits to feed their families, and more than 40% depend on Medicaid for health care, including Jineene Jaramillo. “When you have a disability, it requires a great many doctors. And there’s no way I’d be able to pay for that,” said Jaramillo.
Now, federal cutbacks and restructuring to those programs has put thousands of New Mexicans in jeopardy of losing their benefits. Jeffrey Horn with the New Mexico Health Care Authority said, “We’ve got a shorter recertification period for some medicaid members; we’ll have recertification periods shorten to 6 months for other members, and the biggest one is gonna be work requirements.”
Stopping in Albuquerque on Thursday, the state Health Care Authority is traveling around the state, telling people what they need to do in order for people to hang on to benefits. Some of the upcoming changes include 80 hours per month work requirements, shorter certification periods, and, for plans purchased off the state healthcare exchange, a raise in healthcare premiums. “We expect 89,000 New Mexicans to lose one month of their Medicaid due to work or activity rules,” said Horn during the presentation
The key messages from the Health Care Authority: act early, inform yourself of exceptions before the changes hit, and take advantage of the programs you can get. Jineene said, “That is always difficult when anything goes up in price, knowing that there is this program and many programs if you utilize them.”
Taking part in Thursday’s outreach, Jineene said the effort is keeping her on track in a difficult time. “Just being so willing to help us with our questions really just assures me of a better future for myself.”
The federal changes take effect on New Year’s Day. The state is holding several more outreach events through January.
