Everyone has a right to receive critical medical care when needed. Unfortunately, this de facto universal right to health care is not balanced by a universal obligation to pay for it.

Over 40% of NM employers choose not to offer medical benefits. Even among those who do, 27% do not cover their employees' families, and 30% pay half or less of insurance premiums. For most small companies, health insurance is too expensive and does not provide a clear benefit. 87% of employers who do not offer benefits say they cannot afford them; 47% say they don't need to offer health insurance to attract workers, and 42% believe that healthcare is not their responsibility. Offering benefits has become a competitive disadvantage and a threat to profitability, particularly in low-wage, high turnover industries.

Individuals are also deciding that health insurance is not worth it. Only 30% of the uninsured believe they are not eligible for coverage, while 50% say they cannot afford it and 14% do not want it or find it too much of a hassle. 21% earn a good income (above 235% of FPL), but for many families buying health insurance is a lower priority and a higher expense than food, clothing or transportation.

As a result, barely above half the population under 65 is covered by private health insurance, leaving taxpayers to pay for the other half. Insurance is becoming more expensive because providers are shifting costs to paying customers, and because the people who keep buying insurance tend to be older and need more expensive medical services. This is why the price of insurance and healthcare-related state spending have grown faster than the overall cost of care. To escape this downward spiral, we must stop asking for volunteers, and start demanding that everyone pay their fair share.