The cost of these three plans would range from $6.03 to $6.7 billion.

The study found that most uninsured New Mexicans are individuals under the age of 45 whose employers have fewer than 25 employees. Children with no type of insurance make up 12 percent, and 70 percent of children lose their coverage at some point within the year.

"The cost of doing nothing is outrageous," Hunn said. "We have momentum now with the governor in the process of developing legislation."

One person in the audience asked if the cost containment in the plans would be sustainable, and Mason answered that administration costs as well as how medical information would be kept would be streamlined, forms could be standardized and billing would be consolidated.

"There's maybe a possibility of one-point enrollment, doing it all in one place instead of having to go all over," Penn added.

Another resident asked if big businesses were being brought on board.

"Unfortunately, we spend one-third more than any other industrialized country," Mason said. "I think the business community is speaking out."

"We need to find solutions that make sense for everyone," Hunn said.

State Rep. Elias Barela, D-Valencia County, who was the emcee for the forum, said he thinks that, for many years, the states have been waiting on the federal government to do something, and, to date, it hasn't happened.

"We could wait forever," Barela said. "If we start doing reforms, hopefully the federal government will follow suit. Sometimes you have to argue that health care is a human right."

One woman in the audience said she'd like to retire but she can't because of the cost of health care.

Dr. David Schneider of Belen said he is for universal health care coverage and believes that it is a human right. He is also a member of the county hospital advisory board and said that a hospital in the county is necessary.

"It will work," Schneider said. "Currently, we spend $800,000 elsewhere. As a doctor who loves the county I live in, a hospital is absolutely affordable and doable. There are a few who want to cause doubt (about the hospital). Eighty percent voted for this (a hospital), and a small group is trying to block what the voters authorized. The county residents deserve access to health care, and they don't need to be driving to Albuquerque."

Barela went on to say that counties smaller than Valencia County have a hospital, and he believes it would be a benefit for residents here.

"I think it would be a real plus to have a hospital for our community," Barela said.

Mason said all the information gathered from the study, along with the community forums would help in writing legislation that will be introduced in 2008.

"It has to be done because it's the right thing to do, not because it costs us money," Penn said.

By 2011, the study reports, all the models will be more expensive than the current except for the Health Security Act. The plans will also rely on increases in funding for the uninsured, and there's no guarantee of federal funding. A cost to implement and transition into any one of the three plans was not implemented into the study.

The plan also showed that staying with the way things are done now, by 2011, will reach $8.77 billion and the number of uninsured New Mexicans will rise to 472,000. Insurance premiums will also rise.

Penn said after reviewing the research from Mathematica, the HCNMC recommended creating a New Mexico Health Care Authority that would merge the strengths of the three models, maximize Medicaid, include the insurance industry requiring standard coverage, coverage of pre-existing conditions, standard data submissions and have transparent cost-profit information in place.

"If there's something you want to say about the model, now's the time to do it," Penn said. "It's important to write your governor."

For more information, visit www.healthactionnm.org

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