New Poll: Majority Of N.M. Voters Would Rather Keep Their Current Health Insurance Over Medicaid Forward, Overwhelmingly Satisfied with Current Plans
SANTA FE, N.M. – With legislators in New Mexico contemplating dramatic changes to the state’s health care system and federal policymakers debating substantial cuts to essential programs such like Medicaid, a recent statewide public opinion survey found that an overwhelming majority of New Mexico voters are satisfied with their current health insurance plan and would rather keep their current health insurance coverage than purchase something new through the Medicaid Forward insurance system.
The poll, conducted by Locust Street Group, surveyed 800 likely voters across New Mexico and found that among various proposals to reform the state’s health care system, the most popular was to improve upon the existing system, as opposed to a new plan such as Medicaid Forward. The polling also found that a majority of voters would not be willing to pay more in taxes or more than they currently do for health care to finance Medicaid Forward in the state. Most voters also indicated concern over the impacts of Medicaid Forward to quality of care, hospital costs, the physician shortage and coverage options
The key findings of the poll include:
- An overwhelming majority of voters (82 percent) in New Mexico are SATISFIED with their current health insurance plan.
- 68 percent of voters would rather KEEP their current health insurance coverage than purchase coverage through the Medicaid Forward insurance system.
- The most popular proposal to reform New Mexico’s health care system is to build on what’s working and improve the current system (76 percent).
- 56 percent of voters are UNWILLING to pay more than they currently do for health care and 53 percent of voters are UNWILLING to pay more in taxes to fund a Medicaid Forward system.
- Most voters were concerned that creating a Medicaid Forward program in New Mexico would reduce access to quality care (82 percent), increase hospital costs (79 percent), worsen the physician shortage (78 percent) and result in fewer coverage options (75 percent).
Voters are clear in their views towards New Mexico’s health care system. The polling shows that New Mexicans both like and want to keep their current insurance plan. Furthermore, they voice significant concerns with a Medicaid Forward proposal including access to care and increasing costs. Most New Mexican voters want lawmakers to focus on crime and public safety, with half of the respondents ranking it as their top issue. Lawmakers should heed the advice of their constituents and continue to build upon and improve our current system.
Poll Methodology: Locust Street Group, on behalf of New Mexico’s Health Care Future, surveyed 800 likely voters in New Mexico (balanced to current state demographics by gender, age, race, income, education, and political ideology). The survey was fielded online and by phone from February 25 to March 10, 2025.
Read the Locust Street Group’s analysis of the poll HERE.