What CHRISTUS is doing
CHRISTUS Health Plan is leaving Medicare Advantage in New Mexico on December 31, 2026. CMS lists no CHRISTUS plans in New Mexico for 2027. CHRISTUS hospitals and clinics will still see Medicare patients; only the insurance plans are ending.
See 2027 plans in your area
You'll go to PlanMatchMedicare.com, a plan comparison site from Benefits Life, the publisher of this site. Only your ZIP code is sent.
Your deadlines
- Now through February 28, 2027: because your plan is ending, you can choose new coverage until the end of February. Through December 7 you use the Annual Enrollment Period; from December 8 you use a Special Enrollment Period for people whose plan is ending.
- By December 31, 2026 for no gap: choose by December 31 and your new plan starts January 1, 2027. Choose in January and it starts February 1; choose in February and it starts March 1. Until then you'd have Original Medicare without drug coverage.
- Up to March 4, 2027: you have a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policies with no health questions. Apply as early as 60 days before your plan ends and no later than 63 days after it ends on December 31.
What happens if you do nothing
You won't lose Medicare. If you don't join another plan, you'll have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) starting January 1, 2027. Original Medicare doesn't include drug coverage, so you'd also need a Part D plan, and it has no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket unless you add a Medigap policy.
Five steps to take before December 31
- Find your letter. Your plan sent an Annual Notice of Change or a non-renewal notice. Keep it handy.
- List your doctors, hospitals and prescriptions, with the dose of each drug.
- See what's offered in your county. Every New Mexico county still has Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, and you can also choose Original Medicare with a Medigap policy and a Part D plan.
- Talk with a licensed insurance agent. An agent can check your doctors and drugs against each option at no cost to you. Call 505-MEDICARE (505-633-4227), TTY 711.
- Enroll by December 31 so your new coverage starts January 1 with no gap. You have until February 28 if you need more time.
How a licensed insurance agent can help
- Compare plans from the companies they work with in your county, side by side, at no cost to you.
- Check whether your doctors, hospital and pharmacy are in each plan's network, and how each plan covers your prescriptions.
- Help you apply for a Medigap policy while your guaranteed right lasts.
- Meet in person, by phone or by video, in English or Spanish.
Where affected CHRISTUS members live
| County | People who must choose a new plan |
|---|---|
| Santa Fe County | 591 |
| Otero County | 311 |
| San Miguel County | 126 |
| Bernalillo County | 60 |
| Rio Arriba County | 53 |
| Los Alamos County | 13 |
| Sandoval County | 13 |
| Taos County | 13 |
Other companies ending plans
- Presbyterian Health Plan: at least 29,728
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico: at least 11,526
- SCAN Health Plan: at least 590
- All 2027 plan changes in New Mexico
Can I still go to CHRISTUS hospitals and doctors?
CHRISTUS hospitals and clinics will still see Medicare patients. What changes is your insurance plan. Before you choose a new plan, ask whether your doctors and hospital are in its network, or choose Original Medicare, which works with any doctor who accepts Medicare.
Will I lose my Medicare?
No. Only your Medicare Advantage plan is ending. If you don't choose a new plan, you'll have Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) on January 1, 2027, but no drug coverage unless you join a Part D plan.
What is the deadline to choose a new plan?
Because your plan is ending, you have until February 28, 2027. Choose by December 31, 2026 and your new plan starts January 1 with no gap. If you choose in January, it starts February 1; in February, March 1.
Can I buy a Medigap policy without health questions?
Yes, for a limited time. When your Medicare Advantage plan leaves, you have a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap policies if you switch to Original Medicare. Apply from 60 days before your plan ends until 63 days after it ends (by March 4, 2027).
Does it cost anything to talk with an agent?
No. Licensed insurance agents are paid by the insurance companies, not by you. You pay the same for a plan whether or not you use an agent.
Sources
Member counts are CMS's October 2026 enrollment in each carrier's regular (non-special-needs) Medicare Advantage plans, in counties where that carrier offers none in 2027. CMS hides counts of 10 or fewer, so the real numbers are a little higher.
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files, 2026 and 2027
- CMS Monthly Enrollment by Contract, Plan, State and County, October 2026
- CMS Medicare Advantage Enrollment and Disenrollment Guidance, §30.4.3: SEP for non-renewals (requests December 8–31 start January 1)
- Santa Fe New Mexican / Searchlight New Mexico: New Mexico seniors face fewer Medicare choices as open enrollment begins (Oct. 2026)
- Albuquerque Journal: Thousands of New Mexicans to lose Medicare Advantage plans as open enrollment begins (Oct. 2026)
