Healthcare (Medicare)

SB 21 requires New Mexico Medicare supplement insurers to offer annual open enrollment periods for seniors. It directly affects residents aged 65+ with Medicare supplement policies (Medigap) in New Mexico. The bill mandates that each eligible policyholder receives a 60-day enrollment window starting the first day of their birthday month, during which they can switch to policies of equal or lesser value without health-based denial, discrimination, or preexisting condition exclusions. Insurers must also notify policyholders 30-60 days before the window opens about their rights and policy changes.

HB 38 requires New Mexico health insurance plans to cover wheelchairs and activity chairs for individuals with permanent mobility-limiting conditions (such as paralysis, limb loss, or neuromuscular disorders) without more restrictive terms than other medical benefits. The bill mandates coverage equivalent to Medicare standards, including all necessary services like fittings, repairs, replacements, and instruction, while prohibiting separate cost-sharing or lifetime limits for these devices. It also ensures insurers must cover out-of-network providers when in-network options are unavailable and reimburse at in-network rates. This applies to all group health plans under the Health Care Purchasing Act.

SB 13 extends and expands a tax deduction for healthcare providers in New Mexico. It postpones the sunset date for this deduction from 2028 to 2031 and adds coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles paid directly by patients to the list of deductible expenses. The bill affects licensed healthcare practitioners (like doctors, dentists, and therapists) and their associations who provide services through managed care organizations. These providers can now reduce their taxable income by deducting patient-paid portions of their fees, rather than just certain insurance payments. The change applies only to "commercial contract services" under managed care plans, not Medicare or Medicaid services.