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NM Insurance Chief Opposes Graham-Cassidy Bill

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New Mexico’s top health insurance official is adding his name to a letter opposing the latest Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. 

New Mexico Insurance Superintendent John Franchini is one of 36 current and former insurance commissioners across the country to sign the letter to congress outlining major concerns over the Graham-Cassidy health care bill.

The letter says the “bill would increase the number of people without health coverage and severely disrupt states’ individual insurance markets,” and warns of steep premium increases  over time. It urges Congress to pass a new bill that would stabilize the insurance markets.

Providers in New Mexico’s state exchange are already set to hike premiums between 17 and 49 percent next year, because of uncertainty around the future of the health care law.

The insurance commissioners’ letter comes just days after Republican Governor Susana Martinez announced her opposition to the latest repeal and replace legislation.

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KUNM's Public Health New Mexico project is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the McCune Charitable Foundation. Find more at www.publichealthnm.org

Ed Williams came to KUNM in 2014 by way of Carbondale, Colorado, where he worked as a public radio reporter covering environmental issues. Originally from Austin, Texas, Ed has reported on environmental, social justice, immigration and Native American issues in the U.S. and Latin America for the Austin American-Statesman, Z Magazine, NPR’s Latino USA and others. In his spare time, look for Ed riding his mountain bike in the Sandias or sparring on the jiu-jitsu mat.
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