Best Cheap Health Insurance in New Mexico (2025)
BlueCross BlueShield sells the best health insurance in New Mexico. Gold plans from BCBS start at $354 per month before discounts.
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Best and cheapest health insurance in New Mexico
Cheapest health insurance companies in New Mexico
BlueCross BlueShield has the cheapest health insurance in New Mexico, but Molina is the cheapest option for more people.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has the cheapest health insurance for about 4 in 10 people in New Mexico. That includes the cheapest Gold plans in Albuquerque.
But Molina's Gold plans are the cheapest option for about half of New Mexico's population. If you live in Las Cruces, a smaller city like Hobbs or Carlsbad, or in a more rural part of New Mexico, Molina is a cheaper option.
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Affordable health insurance in New Mexico
Company |
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
| BlueCross BlueShield | $354 - $539 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $389 - $523 |
| Molina | $399 - $556 |
| Presbyterian Health Plan | $434 - $788 |
- BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) sells the cheapest Gold plans in New Mexico. BCBS is the cheapest option for about 44% of people in NM, including those who live in Albuquerque.
- But Molina has the cheapest Gold plan for nearly half the population of New Mexico. Molina's rates are the cheapest overall, but they're the cheapest option in many major cities, including Las Cruces and Roswell, and in most of the rural areas of the state.
Lowest overall medical costs: Presbyterian Health Plan
Presbyterian plans are a good option if you need expensive medical care or go to the doctor often.
That's because, on average, Presbyterian plans have the lowest out-of-pocket maximums. On average, you won't pay more than $5,753 per year per year for medical care. That's the lowest average out-of-pocket maximum in New Mexico. The state average is $6,691 per year.
Presbyterian plans aren't the cheapest option in New Mexico. But paying more for a plan can make sense if you need expensive treatments or frequent medical care. The amount you save by paying less when you go to the doctor usually makes up for the higher monthly rate.
Best health insurance companies in New Mexico
BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) sells the best health insurance plans in New Mexico.
Not only does a BCBS plan have cheap rates, it lets you more easily get medical care. Choosing a company with a large network, like BlueCross BlueShield, makes it more likely that the doctors you want to see will take your coverage. Most doctors and hospitals take BCBS plans, which gives you more flexibility to choose where to get health care. In New Mexico, the only kind of plans available are HMOs, which means you have to use certain doctors to have coverage.
BlueCross BlueShield is the most popular health insurance company in New Mexico. Almost 6 in 10 health insurance plans in the state come from BCBS.
BCBS also has excellent customer satisfaction. Health Care Service Corporation, the parent company of BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico, gets about 42% fewer complaints than expected for a company its size.
Best-rated health insurance companies in New Mexico
Company |
Editor rating
|
ACA rating
|
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 3.0 | |
| Molina | 3.0 | |
| UnitedHealthcare | NA | |
| Presbyterian Health Plan, Inc. | 4.0 |
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How much does health insurance cost in New Mexico?
Health insurance in NM costs $513 per month, on average, but you could pay an average of $80 per month if you get discounts based on your income.
- In New Mexico, Gold plans are often cheaper than Silver and Bronze plans. Gold plans also give you more coverage than Silver or Bronze, so they're a better option for most people.
- Your age also impacts how much you pay for health insurance. You'll usually pay more when you're younger and it's less likely that you'll need expensive medical care.
Get affordable health insurance in New Mexico with subsidies
Health insurance in New Mexico costs $80 per month, on average, if you can get discounts based on your income.
More than 8 in 10 people in New Mexico who shop for a plan on BeWellNM, New Mexico's state health insurance marketplace, can get discounts on their monthly rate. These are called subsidies. About one-third of people can get plans for under $10 per month because of subsidies.
To get subsidies, you have to make between $15,606 and $60,240 per year as a single person or $31,200 and $124,800 per year as a family of four. But if you can get Medicaid, you can't get subsidies.
You can use subsidies to buy a Bronze, Silver or Gold plan from any company in New Mexico. And if you can get subsidies and you choose a Silver plan, you might also be able to another discount that lets you pay less when you go to the doctor.
Cheap New Mexico health insurance plans by city
BlueCross BlueShield sells the cheapest health insurance in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.
Presbyterian sells the cheapest plans in Santa Fe. But in the rest of the state, including Las Cruces and most rural areas, Molina is the cheapest company. In fact, Molina sells the cheapest health insurance for about 50% of New Mexico's population.
Cheapest health insurance by NM county
County | Cheapest plan | Monthly rates |
|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo | BCBS Blue Community Gold HMO 205 | $354 |
| Catron | Molina Gold Low-Cost Generic Rx | $479 |
| Chaves | Molina Gold Low-Cost Generic Rx | $479 |
| Cibola | Molina Gold Low-Cost Generic Rx | $479 |
| Colfax | Molina Gold Low-Cost Generic Rx | $479 |
Cheapest Gold plan with rates for a 40-year-old
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Best health insurance by level of coverage
The best health insurance plan for you depends on your health needs, your finances and the plan options in your area.
Because Gold plans are so affordable in New Mexico, they're a good choice for most people. A Gold plan will also give you the best coverage for your medical costs. However, if you have a low income, you may get a better deal with a Silver plan because of the cost-sharing reductions discounts, or you could get free health insurance through Medicaid.
Gold plans: Best coverage in New Mexico
| Gold plans pay for about 80% of your medical care. |
A Gold health insurance plan has the best medical benefits in New Mexico. This means you'll have the lowest costs when you need medical care. Usually, you would pay more for health insurance to get the good coverage of a Gold plan. However, in New Mexico, Gold plans usually have the cheapest rates of any plan tier.
Gold plans cost an average of $513 per month in New Mexico.
Silver plans: Moderate-coverage health insurance
| Silver plans pay for about 70% of your medical care. |
Silver health insurance plans give you coverage that's between what you'll get with either a Bronze or Gold plan. A Silver plan will pay about 70% of your medical bills, while you pay 30%.
Because they're more expensive than Gold plans in New Mexico, Silver plans aren't the best option for most people. But if you have a low income, Silver plans might make sense, because you can get an extra discount that makes your medical care cheaper by covering a larger share of your bills.
In New Mexico, Silver plans cost $635 per month, on average.
Bronze plans: Basic plans with low coverage
| Bronze plans pay for about 60% of your medical care. |
Bronze plans only cover about 60% of your medical care. In New Mexico, though, Bronze plans have higher rates than Gold plans, which have better coverage. Even if you don't need medical care often, you're better off buying a Gold plan. You'll save money each month and have lower medical bills when you do get care.
Elsewhere in the country, Bronze plans are often a good choice if you're young, healthy and don't go to the doctor often. But since you can get a better plan for a cheaper price in New Mexico, it doesn't usually make sense to buy a Bronze plan.
Bronze plans cost $538 per month, on average, in New Mexico.
Cheap or free health insurance in New Mexico if you have a low income
If you can't afford health insurance because you have a low income, you might qualify for Medicaid. If you can't get Medicaid, a Silver plan might be a good option, because you could get extra discounts that make medical care cheaper.
Medicaid in New Mexico
New Mexico's Medicaid program offers low-cost or free health insurance for people who have a low income. New Mexico has expanded its Medicaid eligibility. So you can qualify for Medicaid if you earn less than about $21,000 per year as a single person. If your family has four people, you have to earn less than about $44,000 per year.
Use cost-sharing reductions for cheaper medical care
If you don't qualify for Medicaid, consider buying a Silver plan. You can make the rates cheaper with monthly subsidies, and you might also get a discount that makes your medical care cheaper.
These are called cost-sharing reductions, and they're only available on Silver plans. They make your deductible, coinsurance and out-of-pocket maximum lower, so you pay a lower share of your medical bill. If you can get cost-sharing reductions, your Silver plan might have better coverage than a Gold plan.
To get cost-sharing reductions, you have to make between $15,060 and $37,650 as a single person or between $31,200 and $78,000 per year as a family of four.
Are health insurance rates going up in NM?
New Mexico health insurance rates went up by an average of 10% from 2024 and 2025.
Gold plans, the most popular plan level in NM, had the lowest increase, costing 7% more in 2025 compared to 2024. Bronze plans went up the most, with a 14% jump in cost.
Tier | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $473 | $538 | 14% |
| Silver | $577 | $635 | 10% |
| Gold | $477 | $513 | 7% |
Monthly costs are for a 40-year-old.
To buy Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, also called "Obamacare" plans, in New Mexico, you have to go to BeWellNM, the state's marketplace for health insurance. You can also buy a plan directly from a company, but you won't be able to get rate subsidies or cost-sharing reductions.
You can usually buy health insurance between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15 each year. This is called open enrollment. If you have recently moved, had a baby, gotten married, lost coverage from your job or another qualifying life change, you might be able to buy coverage outside of this time period.
ACA plans don't use your health to determine your rates. Companies can only use five things to determine how much you pay for a plan:
- Your age
- The plan tier you buy
- Where you live
- How many people you want on your plan
- Whether or not you smoke or use tobacco
This means that, even if you have a pre-existing condition, you can buy a plan. You won't be charged more because of your health, and you won't be denied coverage.
Short-term health insurance in NM
Currently, you can't buy short-term health insurance in New Mexico. Temporary coverage is technically allowed in the state, but the strict rules mean that no company is offering plans.
If you need coverage for a short time, like if you're between jobs, you can buy a plan on BeWellNM. You can cancel the plan at any time, if you get other coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How much is health insurance per month in New Mexico?
Health insurance in New Mexico costs $513 per month, on average, for a Gold plan. Your rates will depend on how old you are, where you live, the company you pick, the plan level you choose and how many people you want your plan to cover. You'll also pay more if you smoke or use tobacco.
What is Obamacare called in New Mexico?
New Mexico's state health insurance website is called BeWellNM. You can buy Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, sometimes called "Obamacare" plans on the site. You can also buy plans directly from insurance companies. But if you get a plan straight from a company, you can't get discounts for having a low income.
What is the monthly income limit for Medicaid in New Mexico?
In New Mexico, you can get Medicaid if you make less than about $1,750 per month if you're single. If you have a family with four people, the limit is about $3,667 per month. You might be able to make more and still qualify if you're elderly, blind, have a disability or are pregnant.
Methodology
Health insurance rates, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for 2025 are from BeWellNM, New Mexico's state health insurance exchange. Averages were calculated by coverage tier, company and age. Rates are for a 40-year-old with a Gold plan, unless another plan level is called out. Info about the most popular plan level is from KFF.
Rates for plans with subsidies are from CMS data and account for everyone who shopped for a plan during 2024 open enrollment and got advance premium tax credits (APTCs).
ValuePenguin ranked the health insurance companies in New Mexico based on a review of rates, customer service, coverage and unique features.
Other sources include the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and S&P Global Capital IQ.
Editorial note: The content of this article is based on the author's opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.