Today, over one in five New Mexicans under 65 years old have no health insurance. In addition, one in four receive medical benefits through the state's Medicaid program.

Without drastic action, it will only get worse. Buyers of health insurance, especially small businesses, have seen premiums increase 10%-20% a year for the last several years, leading many to cut benefits.

It's time to redesign the system. The New Mexico Health Choices proposal is a new approach that combines the best of two worlds: fair public financing, and individually purchased commercial insurance plans. It is the only plan that insures everyone, yet keeps government out of micro-managing healthcare and allows people to make their own benefit decisions.