Census Bureau data: More New Mexicans without health insurance

August 26, 2008

ALBUQUERQUE—The U.S. Census Bureau’s annual release today of data on poverty, median household income, and health insurance coverage presents a mixed picture.

There was a small but significant increase in the percentage of people in New Mexico who do not have health insurance. It rose from 20.1 percent in 2004-05 to 22.7 percent in 2006-07 for an increase of 2.6 percent. Nationally, the increase in uninsured people was one-half of 1 percent. New Mexico still has the second highest rate of residents without health insurance in the nation.

But the two other indicators of financial well-being - the percentage of New Mexicans living below the poverty line (15.5 percent) and the median income for New Mexico households ($42,760) - were basically unchanged.

“This is a disappointing result, since the last two years were generally very good for the state economy as measured by personal income and job growth,” said Gerry Bradley, Research Director for New Mexico Voices for Children and its research arm, the Fiscal Policy Project.

“Given this economic growth, we would have hoped to see a more significant drop in the poverty rate,” Bradley added. “The measures just passed in the special session will improve living standards for families, so we are making progress.”

The Fiscal Policy Project is a program of New Mexico Voices for Children and is made possible by grants from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, McCune Charitable Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation. 2340 Alamo SE, Suite 120, Albuquerque, NM 87106-3523; 505-244-9505 (p); www.nmvoices.org

Written by Steve Klinger · Filed Under News