Congratulations! It's exciting to welcome a new child into your home. To start thinking about your child's health, consider adding them to your plan through the Special Enrollment Period.
-
- Home
- Find Care
- Shop Plans
About Our Plans
Individual and Family
Medicaid
Dental & Vision
Life & Disability
Consumer-Directed Health Accounts
Other Plans
- Prescription Drugs
Pharmacy and Prescription Plans
Pharmacy
- Insurance Basics
Understanding Health Insurance
How Health Insurance Works
Coverage Information
Importance of Health Insurance
- Member Services
Member Resources
Account Access
Quick Links
Policy Documents
Forms
New Member
- Employers
- Producers
- Providers
- Company Information
Special Enrollment: Having or Adopting a Child
How Does a Newborn or Adopted Child Qualify for a Special Event?
Adding to your family is a qualifying event for Special Enrollment. This means you can update your Individual and Family health insurance coverage within 60 days of adding to your family.
You may also qualify for Special Enrollment if you were ordered by a court to provide health care coverage for a dependent.
Start Shopping for Health Insurance Today
Whether you're adjusting your current health plan, looking for something new or enrolling for the first time, you're in the right place. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico has many plans to choose from to fit your new family and budget.
How Does Your Plan Cover Children and Pregnancy?
Many related benefits are always included in your plan, like:
- Care for birth complications
- Visits and screening with doctors and midwives
- Nursing support and breastfeeding supplies and equipment
- Pregnancy supplements
- Pediatric dental care
Deadline
Once you lose coverage, you’ll typically have 60 days before or after having or adopting a baby to enroll during Special Enrollment.
If you're choosing a health plan through your job, check with your benefits or HR department. You may have a different timeline.
Documentation
Because you won't lose health care coverage by having or adopting a child, you will not need to send in documentation to enroll during Special Enrollment.
How to Get Health Insurance After Having or Adopting a Child
-
I don't have health insurance. How do I enroll?
If you don't have a health plan, you're in the right place. BCBSNM has many plans to choose from to fit your new family and budget. Let's get started. -
I already have a BCBSNM plan. How can I add my spouse to my plan?
You can add your spouse by updating your plan where you first enrolled:
- If you enrolled directly with us online, visit our shopping platform or call 1-888-809-1135.
- If you enrolled on the New Mexico Health Insurance Marketplace, beWellnm.com, log in to your account.
- If you have health care coverage through your job, call your benefits or HR department.
-
What if my spouse or I don't qualify for Special Enrollment?
If you don't qualify for Special Enrollment, or you missed your enrollment deadline, you're able to shop again during the Open Enrollment Period beginning November 1.1
Depending on your income, you may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. There's no Special Enrollment period for those government offered coverage options – you can apply at any time.
If you're 65+ or have certain disabilities, you may be able to enroll in Medicare.
1Members of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes can enroll any month, not just during open enrollment. You can even apply for cost assistance.
BCBSNM policies have exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, call BCBSNM at 1-866-445-1396 or contact your independent, authorized broker.
P1361