Richardson: Universal health care for New Mexicans

New Mexico Gov. and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson in Washington, Sept. 19, 2007. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)

Gov. Bill Richardson proposes to phase in health care coverage for all New Mexicans through a combination of government programs and private insurance.

Richardson will ask the Legislature next year to approve measures to start implementing universal health care coverage.

About 400,000 New Mexicans are uninsured.

The cost of the governor's plan remains uncertain, but will require tens of millions of dollars in increased state spending to cover lower income adults and children who are uninsured.

A new state commission would be created to administer the health care mandates.

The state would phase in a requirement that people have health care coverage either through private insurance or enrollment in a taxpayer-subsidized program.

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