RELEASE: Medigap bill passes Senate, heads to House
RELEASE: Medigap bill passes Senate, heads to House
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STATE OF NEW MEXICO Michelle Lujan Grisham, Governor Emily Kaltenbach, Cabinet Secretary Antoinette Vigil, Deputy Secretary Angelina Flores-Montoya , Deputy Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 12, 2026 ALTSD Contact: Joey Long, PhD Public Information Officer Joey.long@altsd.nm.gov
Medigap bill passes Senate, heads to House SANTA FE – The New Mexico Senate voted on Thursday to strengthen consumer protections for Medicare supplement insurance enrollees, sending Senate Bill 21 to the House in a bipartisan show of support. The legislation, sponsored by Senators Wilson, Campos, Hickey, Stefanics and Representative Szczepanski unanimously passed the Senate on a 36-0 vote. It also received unanimous approval in both Senate House and Public Affairs and Senate, Tax, Business and Transportation Committees. "Medicare should provide peace of mind, not uncertainty,” said Emily Kaltenbach , Aging Department secretary. “This bill modernizes our Medigap protections and brings New Mexico in line with a growing number of states working to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have greater flexibility and security.” More than 70,000 New Mexico Medicare beneficiaries rely on Medicare supplement insurance (also referred to as Medigap) plans to help cover out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. Without the ability to change plans, many enrollees can find themselves locked into coverage that no longer fits their medical or financial circumstances. SB 21 helps address that gap by providing consumer protections while maintaining stability in the insurance market by allowing movement only to plans with equal or lesser benefits. The bill would establish a “birthday rule” for Medigap beneficiaries, allowing them to switch to a plan with equal or lesser coverage around their birthday each year without being subject to medical underwriting. The policy is designed to give older adults greater flexibility to choose coverage that better meets their health needs while protecting them from being denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions. SB 21 now heads to the House for consideration.
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The New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) was established in 2004 to provide resources, connection and advocacy for seniors and adults with disabilities. The department oversees the state’s Area Agencies on Aging to elevate the quality of care at senior centers, offers advocacy through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman volunteer program, and provides intervention through the agency’s national award-winning Adult Protective Services. Additionally, ALTSD houses the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Center, which offers options counseling, education, and connection to resources. For more information about…