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Medicaid Changes

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SNAP Changes

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New federal Medicaid rules will change coverage for some people starting as soon as Oct. 1, 2026. While not every Medicaid member will be affected, pay attention and keep your contact info current so we can tell you if you need to take any action.

WHAT TO DO

Continue to get care, refill prescriptions, and go to your appointments.
Tell us right away if your contact information changes. It is also important to let us know about changes such as pregnancy, disability status, income, and other factors that could impact coverage. Log in to your YESNM.gov account to report changes.
Read and reply to letters or messages from New Mexico Medicaid.
Chat with us! Click this link: Chat at YES.NM.GOV
Call 1-800-283-4465

WHAT’S CHANGING

Work and activity rules for some adults ages 19-64,
Renewal periods shorten from 12 months to 6 months for some adults
Some immigrants will not be eligible for Medicaid after Oct. 1, 2026
Cost sharing for some adults

CHANGES FOR IMMIGRANTS START OCTOBER 1

Beginning on October 1, 2026 some lawfully present immigrants who are currently enrolled in Medicaid will no longer be covered.

Only the following non-citizens will be eligible for Medicaid:

Lawful permanent residents (may need to meet waiting period.),
Cuban-Haitian individuals,
Citizens of the Compact of Free-Associated States (COFA),
Children under the age of 21 (who reside here lawfully),
Pregnant individuals (who reside here lawfully).

New Mexico is creating a program to cover non-citizens who now get Medicaid but may lose coverage after October 1, 2026. This includes:

Refugees,
Asylees,
Victims of trafficking,
Humanitarian parolees, and
Other non-citizens who now have Medicaid.

Starting October 1, 2026, these Medicaid members will get a letter from BeWell New Mexico about your coverage. If you have questions, please call BeWell at (833) 862-3935.

WORK AND ACTIVITY RULES AND 6-MONTH RENEWALS START JANUARY 1, 2027

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you are an adult between the ages of 19 and 64 who has Medicaid coverage you need to know about important changes to work and activity rules coming January 1, 2027.

THE KEY CHANGES IN JANUARY 2027

Many adults ages 19 to 64 who are enrolled in Medicaid will need to complete 80 hours of work or activity requirements (like working, volunteering, or going to school at least half-time) in a month and report those activities at their renewal (unless they qualify for an exemption).
If you are an adult applying for Medicaid for the first time, you may need to complete 80 work or activity hours during the month before you apply.
Activity hours may include work, community service, a qualifying work program, school, or career training at least half-time, or other approved activity. Members can combine activities to total 80 activity hours.
Many Medicaid members will have to renew their coverage every six months instead of every 12 months.
Some lawfully present immigrants who are currently eligibile for Medicaid will no longer be covered.

WHO IS NOT AFFECTED

You do NOT need to meet work rules if you are:

A foster youth or former foster youth under 26,
American Indian or Alaska Native (retains 12 month renewal),
A parent or caregiver of a child age 13 or younger,
A caregiver for a person with a disability,
A veteran with 100% disability,
Medically frail or have special medical needs,
Required to meet TANF or SNAP work rules,
In a drug or alcohol treatment program
In jail or prison,
Pregnant or receiving postpartum care

If you think you qualify for an exemption, report it at renewal.

OTHER REASONS YOU MAY NOT NEED TO REPORT HOURS

You do NOT need to report hours until your next renewal if you are:

Under age 19,
Enrolled in Medicare,
Covered under another Medicaid category,
Released from jail or prison in the last 3 months,
Getting inpatient or nursing facility care,
Traveling for needed medical care,
Living in a county with a federal disaster declaration, or
Living in a county with high unemployment

HOW TO MEET WORK OR ACTIVITY HOURS

There are many ways to meet the work or activities requirements. You can reach 80 hours each month by doing any of these activities:

Working,
Volunteering,
Going to school half-time
Job training
Having monthly income of $580 or more
Being a seasonal worker earning at least $580 over 6 months

You may need to show proof of your hours or proof of an exemption.

At your renewal, you may be asked to provide proof that you completed 80 hours of work or activities in any month since your last renewal.

Keep proof of each month’s work or activity hours or your exemption.

If work or activity hours apply to you and HCA cannot verify them, you will receive a notice of noncompliance and have 30 calendar days to respond. During that time, you have the opportunity to show that:

You completed your work or activity hours,
You qualify for an exemption, or
The rule does not apply to you.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T REPORT WORK AND ACTIVITY HOURS?

At your renewal, we will try to automatically confirm your eligibility. If we cannot confirm that you have met, or were exempt from, Medicaid work and activity requirements, you will receive a 30-day compliance notice. This gives you more time to complete activities or report why you do not need to comply.

Your Medicaid coverage may end if you do not meet work and activity requirements at your renewal.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHANGES

Update your mailing address at YES.NM.GOV using the chat
Watch for letters, renewal forms, and other notices from HCA
Check whether activity hours apply to you or whether you qualify for an exemption
Keep records of activity hours or your exemption
Respond quickly if HCA asks for information

TIMELINE

September 2026: Letters mailed to adults affected membersby work or activity rules

Beginning Sept. 1, 2026, New Mexico Medicaid mail letters to members who must complete work or activity rules requirements to keep or receive Medicaid coverage.

January 2027: Work and activity requirements and 6-month renewal notifications begin for some adult members

In January, New Mexico Medicaid will mail letters to members with a March 2027 renewal date. If a member must comply with work or activity requirements, they may need to show proof of compliance or notify us of their exemption in order to keep their Medicaid coverage.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHANGES

Update your mailing address at YES.NM.GOV using the chat
Watch for letters, renewal forms, and other Medicaid notices

REDUCED RETROACTIVE COVERAGE

Beginning in January 2027, retroactive Medicaid eligibility will be reduced to two months prior to the application month for most applicants, including people aged 65 and older and people with disabilities, and to one month prior to the application month for most adults ages 19-64.