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New Mexico Health Insurance Companies
New Mexico Health Insurance Resources
How to Get the Most Savings
New Mexico Health Insurance FAQS
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in New Mexico
New Mexico Health Insurance Companies
New Mexico has several companies offering health insurance in the state. The following two offer comprehensive plans for people throughout New Mexico:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico
BCBSNM provides comprehensive insurance to ensure their members receive the most affordable care. They offer plenty of plan types, including individual and family plans, employer plans, Medicare and Medicaid plans, and dental and vision plans. They also offer telehealth coverage and some pharmacy coverage as well.
Presbyterian Health Plans
With over a hundred doctor and specialist clinics, nine full-service hospitals, and convenient locations all over the state, Presbyterian provides New Mexicans with a huge choice when it comes to healthcare services. They offer individual and family plans, as well as Medicare Advantage plans and Centennial care, which is their Medicaid program.
Health Insurance Marketplace in New Mexico
If you’re looking for health insurance in New Mexico, the health insurance Marketplace is a great place to start. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state to compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in New Mexico who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
New Mexico’s Short Term Health Insurance Guidelines
If you’ve missed the health insurance Open Enrollment Period (OEP), or if you need health insurance for a short amount of time, short-term plans are a great option. It’s important to note, though, that these policies tend to only cover the basics, and you can be denied one of these plans if you have a pre-existing condition.
There are some rules around short-term plans, both at the federal and the state level. Some states choose to have their own guidelines separate from federal guidelines, or not offer short-term plans at all. In the case of New Mexico, 3-month short term plans used to be available for purchase, but as of mid-February 2019, new regulations have stopped insurers from offering short term plans altogether.
New Mexico Health Insurance Resources
There are plenty of tools you can use to make getting coverage easier. Insurance company websites, your employer, and the government are all resources you can use to find affordable coverage.
Buy direct – If there is an insurance company you know you want to buy from, you can use their website to shop their specific plans and purchase directly from them. But this is only a good option if you know that the insurer has the best plan for you, since their website will only show their plans.
Talk to your employer – While employers in New Mexico are not required to offer their employees’ health insurance, most employers have a group health plan their employees can enroll in. You can talk to your HR department about what options are available and how much plans cost.
Look into government assistance programs – Medicare and Medicaid are programs the government offers to help get people in certain circumstances get covered. Medicare is for people 65 and older, or adults between 18 and 65 with a qualifying disability. Medicare plans are low-cost and cover a variety of health services. Medicaid is for low-income individuals and families. You can get a free plan through this program if you meet all of its requirements.
While the above are great options, they all have downfalls, like having limited options or the need to meet specific requirements. So, if you’re looking for all of your options, the best resource you can use is an insurance agent. EZ agents can compare every option across all platforms, including government-funded ones, to make sure the plan you choose is truly the most affordable and covers everything you specifically need.
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How to Get the Most Savings
In terms of healthcare spending per capita, New Mexico is ranked 47th out of the 50 states, making it one of the states with the most affordable health care! The average annual cost of healthcare for one person is $8,505. But even though you live in a state with lower costs, there are still ways you can save money.
Maintaining your health is one way to save money on premiums, since your health is one of the first things health insurance companies consider. If your body mass index (BMI) is excessively high, or even too low, you might have to pay higher premiums. In New Mexico, the obesity rate is 31.7%, so if you’re among this group you could be paying more for your insurance and could save by keeping your BMI in a healthy range.
Smoking or using other tobacco products can also be a problem for insurance companies. In fact, premiums for smokers can be up to 50% higher than for nonsmokers. 13.4% of New Mexico’s population are smokers, so if you’re among them, you should consider quitting. Quitting will save you money on tobacco products and keep you healthier, as well as lower your insurance costs.
But there’s a way to save that’s even simpler: working with an EZ agent! We can find any local discounts that you might be eligible for and can compare all of the plans available to you, and that fit your budget. You could save hundreds of dollars a year on health insurance thanks to EZ’s agents! Furthermore, our services are all free, and come with no obligation to buy.
New Mexico Health Insurance FAQS
Does New Mexico require you to have health insurance?
No, New Mexico has no state health insurance mandate. And since there is no longer a federal tax penalty for not having health insurance, you are not required to have insurance on any level.
What is the cheapest health insurance in New Mexico?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $236 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors.
How much does health insurance cost in New Mexico?
The average monthly premium for health insurance is $339, or $4,068 per year, with plans as low as $236 a month to as high as $633. On the bright side, many uninsured residents may find that they qualify for certain plans for free!
Which insurance companies offer plans in New Mexico?
The top 6 insurers in New Mexico are Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, Friday Health Plans, Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, Presbyterian Health Plans, New Mexico, and Western Sky New Mexico.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in New Mexico
There are various ways to enroll in a health insurance plan in New Mexico. You can search for plans and enroll directly on insurance companies’ websites, or you can enroll through your employer if they offer a group plan.
If you’re interested in Marketplace insurance, BewellNM is the state-run exchange site in New Mexico where you can shop and compare plans.
But however, you want to enroll, an EZ agent can help. We can assist you in the process by offering guidance and responding to your questions. We will find the best plans for your needs and present you with options while taking your health, lifestyle, and financial situation into account. To provide you the coverage you need, we partner with the best insurance companies in the nation.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
