ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

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We ensure that New Mexicans attain their highest level of health by providing whole-person, cost-effective, accessible, and high-quality health care and safety-net services.

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Health Care Coverage Innovations

During the 2021 Legislative Session, the New Mexico Legislature passed and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 317, which placed a moratorium on out-of-pocket costs for mental health services for state-regulated plans and created a Health Care Affordability Fund to lower health care costs for New Mexicans. The law allows the Fund to be used to:

  1. Reduce premiums and out-of-pocket health care costs for New Mexicans who qualify for coverage on BeWell, the state’s Health Insurance Marketplace;
  2. Reduce premiums for small businesses and their employees;
  3. Provide resources for planning, design and implementation of health care coverage initiatives for uninsured New Mexico residents; and
  4. Provide resources for administration of state health care coverage initiatives for uninsured New Mexico residents.

 

Since July 1, 2024 the Health Care Affordability Fund (HCAF) has been administered by the Health Care Authority.

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**NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE**

Rule 8.401.2 NMAC Health Care Authority- Health Care Affordability Fund

Notice Date: March 10, 2026

Hearing Date and Time: April 16, 2026, 10 a.m.

Location of Hearing: 3900 Masthead Street NE, Suite 310, Albuquerque, NM 87109

Zoom link to attend virtually

  • Meeting ID: 884 1831 6497 / Passcode: 168145

Phone number to call in:

  • (253) 215-8782 / Conference ID: 168145# OR
  • (346) 248-7799 / Conference ID: 168145#

Proposed Effective Date: May 6, 2026 

Click to read Notice of Proposed Rule Making 

Click to read Rule 8.401.2 NMAC Health Care Authority- HealthCare Affordability Fund

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*Posted 03/10/2026

Your premiums will go up if Congress does not extend your premium tax credits.

Click to find out how much: