Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that New Mexico will receive an estimated $37 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to insure New Mexicans who have pre-existing medical conditions and who therefore cannot afford insurance.

As part of the new health insurance reform law, states will be awarded federal funds to help "high-risk" Americans buy health insurance.  When the new law is fully implemented in 2014, no American will be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

"Already we are seeing the benefit of this new health insurance law.  Our state is slated to receive millions of dollars to help put health insurance in the reach of New Mexicans who – because of their medical conditions -- have not been able to afford it," Bingaman said.

New Mexico will have flexibility in how to use the funding.  HHS has asked states to declare by the end of this month how they intend to use funds.