AFT-New Mexico News:
The preliminary update regarding the Fiscal Year 2024 budget as passed by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee prompted many to reach out specifically around potential healthcare coverage for educators next year.
We wanted to use this stand-along update to let you know the status of healthcare coverage in this moment, with a reminder that there are 30 more days to go for the Legislative Session.
House Bill 102, carried by Rep. Ray Lara and co-sponsored by Reps. Debbie Sariñana, Natalie Figueroa, and Sen. Harold Pope, Jr., would expand health insurance premium coverage for New Mexico’s K-12 public educators and several New Mexico Public State Insurance Authority-participating higher education institutions (e.g., AFT NM locals Northern New Mexico College and Santa Fe Community College). The legislation would also include those in the Albuquerque Public Schools insurance plan.
Specifically, educators would have their first $10,000 in premiums covered, and any healthcare premiums over $10,000 would be covered at a rate of 60% by the employer. For many educators, this would represent 100% coverage for their insurance plan.
A top priority of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, AFT NM is in strong support of this legislation.
It not only represents more money in the pockets of New Mexico educators, but also helps to remedy the lower levels of coverage for educators, when compared to other state workers.
HB 102 passed the House Education Committee with a bi-partisan vote of 10-2 and it also passed the House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee with unanimous support.
Yesterday, when the House Appropriations and Finance Committee released their version of the budget the full cost (approximately $100M annually) of implementing House Bill 102 was not included in the budget for next fiscal year. This is obviously disappointing; however, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee did include enough money to lower premium costs for educators making under $60K/year.
This means that thousands of classified educators across New Mexico and many more in NMPSIA-participating higher education institutions will see relief in healthcare costs.
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Are we giving up? No, and we are actively working with staff from the Office of the Governor to chart and strategize a pathway forward on House Bill 102. There are 30 days left to go in the Legislative Session and much can still happen.
