HM 4 — STUDY HIGHER ED HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS

HOUSEA MEMORIAL 4REQUESTING 57THE THLEGISLATIVE LEGISLATURE-FINANCE STATECOMMITTEE OFTO NEWSTUDY MEXICOAND -REPORT SECONDON SESSION,OPTIONS 2026TO INTRODUCEDEXPAND BYHEALTH PatriciaINSURANCE RoybalACCESS CaballeroFOR andALL E.PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION EDUCATORS AND GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYEES.

Diane7 Torres-VelásquezWHEREAS, 6New 8Mexico's 10public Ahigher MEMORIALeducation REQUESTINGinstitutions THErely LEGISLATIVEon FINANCEeducators COMMITTEEand TOeducation STUDYworkers, ANDincluding REPORTfull-time ONfaculty, OPTIONStemporary TOpart-time EXPANDfaculty HEALTHand INSURANCEgraduate ACCESSstudent FORemployees, ALLto PUBLICprovide HIGHERinstruction, EDUCATIONresearch, EDUCATORSstudent ANDsupport GRADUATEand STUDENTessential EMPLOYEES.campus operations;

16and WHEREAS, Newstable Mexico'saccess publicto higheraffordable educationhealth institutionsinsurance esupports tworkforce 17well-being, relyinstructional oncontinuity educators and educationthe workers,ability includingof full-timeeducators w l n d 18 faculty, temporary part-time faculty and graduateeducation studentworkers = = 19 a l employees, to provideremain instruction,in research,their studentpositions; support i a e r 20 and essential campus operations;

and aWHEREAS, tthe mavailability mand 21affordability WHEREAS,of stableemployer- accesssupported to affordable health insurance dvary racross eNew 22Mexico's supportspublic workforcehigher well-being,education instructionalinstitutions, continuitycreating anduneven theaccess c e s k 23 ability of educators and education workers to remainmedical incare theirdepending eon where a nworker bis 24employed; u [ positions;

and WHEREAS, the availability and affordability of employer- .232964.2 supported health insurance vary across New Mexico's public higher education institutions, creating uneven access to medical care depending on where a worker is employed;

and HM 4 Page 1 WHEREAS, survey findings regarding higher education workers indicate significant financial insecurity and rent burdens, conditions that can make health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs unaffordable without employer support;

and WHEREAS, New Mexico has an interest in understanding the fiscal impact, administrative requirements and equity e t 17 implications of expanding health insurance coverage options for w l n d 18 public higher education educators and education workers across = = 19 a l institutions, including faculty, temporary part-time faculty i a e r 20 and graduate student employees;

a t m m 21 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF d r e 22 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative c e s k 23 finance committee be requested to conduct a comprehensive study e a n b 24 and to issue a report, in collaboration with the higher u [ education department, the department of finance and .232964.2 - 2 - administration, the health care authority, the public higher education institutions and higher education employer and employee stakeholder organizations, on options to expand access to health insurance to all public higher education educators and graduate student employees;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study and report, at minimum, evaluate health insurance availability and affordability across institutions and the full range of appointment types, including faculty, temporary part-time HM 4 Page 2 faculty and graduate student employees engaged in instruction, instructional support, research or degree-related academic work, and identify gaps in eligibility, affordability and coverage;

options, including eligibility standards for e t 17 providing employer-supported medical coverage, and, where w l n d 18 feasible, dental and vision coverage for faculty, part-time = = 19 a l faculty and graduate student employees;

i a e r 20 B.

estimated fiscal impacts to the state and public a t m m 21 higher education institutions under multiple coverage d r e 22 scenarios, including premium contributions, cost sharing, c e s k 23 administrative costs and phased implementation options;

e a n b 24 C.

potential funding approaches, including from u [ state, federal or private sources;

.232964.2 - 3 - D.

recommended data collection and reporting standards to ensure comparable, statewide tracking of health HM 4 Page 3 coverage and costs across public higher education institutions over time;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be e t 17 transmitted to the governor, legislative finance committee, w l n d 18 legislative education study committee, higher education = = 19 a l department, department of finance and administration and health i a e r 20 care authority.

aHM t4 mPage m 21 - 4 -25 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .232964.2