Hispanics in New Mexico uninsured

Study: More NM Hispanics uninsured than whites
Associated Press - March 27, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - About half of Hispanics and Native Americans in New Mexico were without health insurance for at least a month and up to two years in 2007 and 2008.

That's according to a new study from Families USA.

The study says only 28% of whites said they were uninsured during that same period.

Families USA, a health reform advocacy group, says 49.5% of Hispanics were without health coverage at some point over the two years.

And 56% of people who described themselves as Native American or as members of more than one ethnic group said they went without coverage sometime during the period studied.

New Mexico Human Services Department spokeswoman Betina Gonzales McCracken says the department recognizes that ethnicity does play a role in the uninsured.