Snafu delays health insurance enrollment for thousands

Oct. 31--When the open enrollment period for the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange kicks off Sunday, one carrier with thousands of patients won't be ready to offer plans through the state's online portal.

New Mexico Health Connections has announced that its insurance offerings on the exchange will be delayed by one or two weeks as some technical glitches are resolved. Dr. Martin Hickey, chief executive of the nonprofit insurance cooperative, said the plans should be available by Nov. 15.

Hickey said the problem occurred as the co-op was uploading templates to the federal healthcare.gov website, where New Mexicans seeking individual coverage must go to enroll in a policy.

Health Connections has 25,000 patients enrolled in individual plans through the state's health care marketplace, along with 10,000 small-business employees, who are enrolled in coverage through their employers on the state's own Web portal, beWellNM.com. About 18,000 of the insurance co-op's individual customers receive federal subsidies to help pay their monthly premiums.

"We've made robo calls, we've sent letters -- it's a nonissue," Hickey said of the snafu, adding that he expects most consumers to wait until late November to move forward with purchasing or renewing a health care plan.

Health Connections is offering plans through its own website -- www.MyNMHC.org -- but those who qualify for federal advance tax credits or subsidies must wait to enroll through healthcare.gov.

Hickey said it will be an important year for Health Connections, as he expects many former customers of Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico to take a close look at other options. Blue Cross, after reporting losses of millions of dollars, has scaled back its offerings on the online insurance network. Its only option for individuals in 2016 is an HMO that would not qualify for federal tax credits. The organization requested a rate increase from the Office of the State Superintendent of Insurance to help cover some of its losses, but that was rejected.

Blue Cross Blue Shield President Kurt Shipley said the company hopes to be back on the exchange in 2017.

Three other companies are offering plans through the exchange -- Presbyterian Health Plan, Christus Health Plan and Molina.

"We have been working hard to get the word out about the variety and affordability of health coverage," said Amy Dowd, chief executive officer of the New Mexico exchange. "We are ready for open enrollment to begin on Sunday with assistance available online through beWellnm.com, over the phone or through our in-person assistance network of agents, brokers and enrollment counselors available free of charge."

Premiums for "silver plans" through the exchange -- those ranked second-lowest in terms of costs and benefits out of four types of plans offered through the online market -- have increased 7 percent for 2016, according to the state Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, but they are still among the lowest in the United States.

"With open enrollment only a few days away, we want New Mexicans to know that there are plenty of affordable options available," said Insurance Superintendent John Franchini. "Making sure that New Mexicans have access to affordable health coverage has always been a priority of OSI, and we are pleased with the plans and rates available through the exchange."

Contact Bruce Krasnow at 986-3034 or [email protected].

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