NM health exchange targets Hispanics, Native Americans

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – The state health insurance exchange is taking its message to the airwaves, billboards, community groups and online to boost the number of New Mexicans signing up for coverage during this enrollment period.

Exchange CEO Amy Dowd said Thursday that people will have until the end of January to sign up, but those who want to have coverage by the first of the year face a Dec. 15 deadline.

The exchange’s call center has been receiving about 100 inquiries a day and the number of people seeking email updates has more than doubled compared to last year. Website traffic has increased by nearly 700 percent over the past year.

The exchange has been cleared by federal officials to shift some of the grant money it receives for technology to focus on outreach since the exchange relies on the federal platform to register people.

Dowd said the majority of the exchange’s budget is focused on education and outreach in the hopes of chipping away at the number of New Mexicans who remain uninsured, particularly Hispanics and Native Americans.

The exchange is working with faith-based and civil groups. At least three schools have allowed backpack flyers inviting parents to enrollment events, and information kiosks have been set up at malls in Clovis, Alamogordo, Gallup and Las Cruces.

“Very grass-roots based,” Dowd said of the campaign.

There also are Spanish-language ads, tele-town halls, social media and online chats, she said.

There are currently more than 44,000 New Mexicans enrolled through the exchange, and officials are expecting that number to rise. The exchange’s board of directors is expected to discuss projections at its upcoming meeting.