Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today said he is anxious to begin full Senate debate on health insurance reform legislation.

Bingaman has been a key negotiator of the legislation, which is aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of care while also lowering the costs in both the private and public sectors.  He is on both Senate committees that approved reform legislation; Majority Leader Harry Reid today unveiled legislation that incorporates provisions from both bills.

"After decades of discussion, the full Senate is on the verge of debating health insurance reform legislation that will affect the lives of nearly all Americans.  Our goal is to control escalating costs, improve quality and extend coverage to those who do not have it now," Bingaman said.  "And we do this in a fiscally responsible way that will actually reduce our deficit by more than $100 billion over ten years."

New Mexico stands to gain a lot from health insurance reform legislation.  It is the second most uninsured state in the country, and has the highest rate of uninsured workers.  Without health reform New Mexicans who do have insurance are projected to experience the greatest increase in premiums in the nation.  In 2000, an average family of four spent $6,000 on premiums.  By 2006, that amount jumped to $11,000.  In five years that figure is projected to rise to $28,000.

The full Senate debate is expected to begin this week.