New Mexico has Fewest Residents with Employer-Provided Health Insurance

A Washington-based think tank said New Mexico is the worst in the country for the percentage of residents covered by health care insurance through their employers.

But with tougher economic times, some said they just aren't able to provide it.

Two different Las Cruces businesses said insurance isn't hard to get, it's just hard to pay for.

“Before, health insurance was not affordable for the small business, but when this came along this was too good to be true,” said Brian Cox, President of Sports Accessories.

Cox’s business employs about 10 people. And without the program, benefits might have been limited.

“It offers dental, health, vision and $10,000 life insurance,” said Cox.

The plan is state-subsidized but has now stopped enrolling because it hit its maximum of 40,000 members two years in advance of what it had planned.

“I was very fortunate I came along at the right time to get this. I feel so good to be part of this package. Hopefully they're going to extend it, open the cap to 80,000,” said Cox.

Meanwhile, construction and landscaping businesses have truly hit a slowdown leaving one employer to lay off employees.

“I think it's pretty prevalent in the construction industries that a lot of them don't carry it,” said Davie Salas, owner of Painted Desert Landscaping.

He said he would love to be able to offer his employees insurance, but that leaves him with little profit, if any at all.

“I don't offer health insurance just for the basic reason of if you are running a business and you are trying to do the right thing for a lot of small businesses this is very difficult given the price of insurance,” said Salas.

The state insurance program will enroll new members when others leave it, and that may be difficult when they hear just how good the coverage really is.

“My employees pay about $9 a week. For insurance as far as doctor visits, in some cases, it's a zero co-pay. The emergency room is a zero co-pay," Cox said.

Those who represent children in New Mexco said the state's public programs are great for children and low-income resident, but there is not much aid for the middle-income workers.