New Mexico Insurance Division Receives Consumer Assistance Grant

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission’s Division of Insurance will get $226,000 in federal funds to bolster consumer assistance efforts at the regulatory agency.

The grant, which was made available through the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (OCIIO), will be used to facilitate measures aimed to improve consumer access to information, among many other things, the Commission announced.

According to OCIIO Director Jay Angoff, the grant award will be used to assist with the filing of complaints and appeals; to collect, track and quantify problems and inquiries encountered by consumers on their rights and responsibilities with respect to group health plans and health insurance coverage; and to assist consumers with enrollment in a group health plan or health insurance coverage by providing information, referral and assistance.

Superintendent of Insurance John Franchini said, “Anything we can do through the Division of Insurance to assist consumers is a positive step forward. This grant award allows us to implement new measures and to strengthen existing measures for improving our education efforts and ultimately empower consumers to make sound choices with regard to their health insurance coverage. We’re really excited about it.”