Health insurance changes won’t have immediate impact in New Mexico

Oct. 13--LAS CRUCES -- The decision Thursday by President Donald Trump to halt payments to health insurers under the Affordable Care Act will not have a big impact on New Mexico consumers because the state had already allowed insurers to raise rates in anticipation of that move, explained Heather Widler, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance.

On Wednesday, representatives from that office and from beWellnm, the state's health insurance exchange, were in Las Cruces as part of a traveling road show throughout the state letting people know about the shortened enrollment period this year, which runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15. In the past, the enrollment period has run into the new year. But this year, those not signed up by Dec. 15 will be shut out.

Widler stressed that the cost-sharing payments discontinued by President Trump went to insurance companies, not directly to the consumers.

"For October through December, insurers will not be receiving reimbursements," Widler said. "They are aware of that and, of course, are taking that into account for next year."

New Mexico has four insurers participating in the exchanges, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Christus Health Plan, Molina and New Mexico Health Connections. In September, state regulators approved premium increases of 17 percent to 49 percent, the largest increase in the four years of the state health exchange. Average premium increases were expected to be from 36 to 41 percent.

According to a recent study by The Associated Press, more than 6,600 Doña Ana County residents were enrolled through the health care exchange in 2017, and 52 percent received some level of cost-sharing subsidies. More than 53,000 are enrolled statewide, with more than 19,000 receiving subsidies.

Along with discontinuing payments to insurers, Trump has also issued an executive order intended to allow for cheaper, less comprehensive plans to be sold across state lines. Final regulations for implementing that order are still pending.

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said Friday he would join with AGs from 18 states in filing a lawsuit seeking to block the executive order.

"President Trump's executive order violates the law and threatens healthcare coverage for thousands of New Mexicans -- particularly those with pre-existing conditions," Balderas said in a prepared statement.

Widler said it will be important that the state insurance office makes sure consumers know what they are buying once the new order takes effect.

"We have to urge consumers to be very educated and informed on what they're buying," she said. "It makes it more complicated to regulate. These lower-cost policies are lower cost for a reason."

Walter Rubel can be reached at 575-541-5441, wrubel@lcsun-news.com or @WalterRubel on Twitter.

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