Courtesy Photo: Family on a walk.
Follow BeWell’s tips for a smooth open enrollment
By Prestin Nikolai
For many families, shopping for health insurance or switching plans can feel overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from, and every plan has a different price point and list of covered services.
It can be tough to find a plan that fits your family’s budget and health needs. That’s especially true when the health insurance Open Enrollment Period is available for only a few months of the year.
But this year, you don’t have to dread health insurance shopping. Instead, use this guide from BeWell, New Mexico’s Health Insurance Marketplace, to make getting reliable health insurance coverage easier in 2027.
Why does my family need health insurance? It might feel strange to pay for it if your family doesn’t get sick very often. But health insurance covers preventative care, too, such as well-child visits, vaccinations, and wellness check-ups with your healthcare provider.
Having health insurance also offers peace of mind when emergencies happen. If you get in a bad car accident and you don’t have health insurance, you could get stuck with a bill from the hospital for thousands of dollars. With health insurance coverage, you’ll pay a fraction of that cost without having to sacrifice the care and rehabilitation services you might need.
For Native American families in New Mexico, there’s another benefit to having health insurance. Having your own plan means you won’t have to pay as much for healthcare services that you get outside of Indian Health Services or Tribal Care Clinics. Having health insurance coverage through BeWell expands your care network to include more specialists, as well as better prescription coverage.
The Open Enrollment Period (OEP) is the time of year when you are eligible to enroll in a health insurance plan through your job or a private health insurance marketplace such as BeWell.
Courtesy Photo: Kids playing while parents hold hands.
Employers and marketplaces have set dates for OEP. Through BeWell, this year OEP will begin November 1 and end January 15, 2027. To enroll in a health insurance plan with BeWell during OEP, you must:
- Reside in New Mexico
- Not have health insurance through your job, a partner’s job, or a parent’s job
- Not be eligible for Medicaid or Medicare
- Not be incarcerated
Outside of OEP, there are still some time periods in which you can sign up for health insurance. These are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEP). An SEO usually involves a big life change such as having or adopting a child, losing Medicaid or job-based coverage or moving to a new area.
However, Native Americans who are eligible for health insurance plans through BeWell do not have to wait for an Open Enrollment Period or a big life change to enroll. They can enroll in a health insurance plan or change an existing plan at any time throughout the year.
What should you look for in a health insurance plan? Every family’s health needs and budgets are different. That’s why there are so many types of plans to choose from.
For example, a healthy single person may be comfortable with a plan that covers only basic health services and costs less per month. But a family with children, or people managing chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure, may need more robust coverage.
As you shop for new family health insurance coverage during the Open Enrollment Period, make a list of what matters most for your family’s health. Here are a few questions to ask yourself as you compare plan:
- Does my preferred primary doctor, clinic, urgent care and emergency room accept this insurance?
- Do my specialist providers (like counselors, dermatologists and OB/GYNs) accept this insurance?
- Are my medications covered? Does my pharmacy accept this insurance?
- What kids’ health services are covered under the plan?
- Are wellness exams and vaccinations covered?
- How much will I pay each month for my plan?
- What is the most I might have to pay out of pocket?
All health insurance plans available through BeWell cover ten essential health benefits, including services for mental health care, chronic disease management, maternity and newborn care, and emergency care.
Courtesy Photo: Family having a picnic.
Many health insurance providers and marketplaces provide online tools to help you compare plans. BeWell’s secure comparison tool lets you review up to three plans side by side. That way, you can estimate what each plan covers and how much it will cost based on your household health information and annual income.
Shopping for insurance takes a good bit of paperwork. Without the right help, it can take a good amount of patience, too. Follow these general tips to make finding the right plan easier:
- Take advantage of helpful experts. Meet with a BeWell Certified Assister for free help to compare plans or enroll. Shopping for health insurance is complex, and these experts know the process inside and out. Meet in person, over the phone or virtually—they’re here to answer your questions and help make your enrollment experience easier.
- Gather your paperwork in advance. Before you start your health insurance application, gather details such as birthdates, health needs and income from everyone in your household who is eligible for coverage. Without the right information, you might have coverage gaps or end up paying more than you expected. Ask a Certified Assister for a pre-enrollment checklist to help you gather everything you need.
- Estimate your income accurately. To do this, you’ll need the IRS Form 1040 from filing your taxes last year and information about all your income sources (such as jobs and pensions). It can be tricky for entrepreneurs and seasonal workers to estimate their income—don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.
- See if you’re eligible for financial assistance. New Mexico residents who do not qualify for Medicaid but have an income between 100% and 400% below the federal poverty level qualify for premium tax credits. These credits lower your monthly premium for health insurance plans through BeWell—the only place in New Mexico where these subsidies are available. More than 50% of uninsured New Mexicans qualify for a free or low-cost health insurance plan.
Whether you no longer qualify for Medicaid, age out of coverage through your parents, have lost your job-related coverage or are buying health insurance for the first time, getting coverage is a smart decision for your family.
Having health insurance can save you from getting stuck with big, unexpected hospital bills in the event of an emergency. And you’ll get peace of mind knowing that your routine healthcare—from well-check visits to prescription medications and vaccinations—will be covered.
Prestin Nikolai is customer engagement manager at BeWell.