Tough place to be sick

The Albuquerque Tribune reports —

According to 2002 U.S. Census figures, New Mexico, at about 21 percent, has the second-worst rate of uninsured after Texas. The national average is 15 percent.

About 73 percent of the state’s uninsured are ages 19 to 64 and not covered by Medicaid or Medicare.

Fewer than half of New Mexico employers offer health insurance – 49.7 percent, compared with 62.6 percent nationally.

And the state has a higher rate of children without health insurance – 15 percent vs. 12 percent nationally.