Federal Medicaid eligibility changes took effect October 1, impacting thousands of immigrants in New Mexico, with state-funded alternatives available to help those affected.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Federal Medicaid eligibility changes that took effect October 1 are leaving thousands of immigrants in New Mexico without coverage, with state-funded alternatives available to address the gap.
For many immigrants in New Mexico, the start of October marked a major turning point in their Medicaid access. At one Albuquerque nonprofit, a community of support is available for those affected.
“We know that here in New Mexico, a lot of our families rely on their Medicaid coverage,” Shanae Satriana, a health care advocate at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty (NMCLP), said.
Satriana emphasized that immigrant communities are entitled to representation.
“People deserve to know what’s happening with their health care coverage,” she said. “We don’t think that, just because they’re not born here in New Mexico or in the United States, that they shouldn’t receive access to health care coverage.”
On Tuesday, the New Mexico Health Care Authority wrote in a statement to KOAT that 2,350 lawfully present immigrants lost eligibility this month.
The changes stem from a 2025 House resolution that is altering Medicaid eligibility requirements nationwide.
“They’re used to having their coverage whenever they need it, right? If they have a need, and they go and apply, they can automatically receive it,” Satriana said. “Now, they’re only going to have a certain time frame that they can apply for this coverage.”
To address the loss of federal coverage, New Mexico has introduced BeWell, a state-funded alternative for affected residents. Advocates stress the importance of enrolling by November 1 to avoid delays in coverage.
Even as New Mexico works toward accessible solutions for health care gaps, nonprofits like the NMCLP continue to provide support for those in need.
“We’re proud to be in a state that has expanded coverage for all New Mexicans,” Satriana said. “But there’s still more work that we need to do.”
Immigrant communities are not the only group affected by federal Medicaid changes. Starting in January, the Health Care Authority estimates that approximately 89,000 additional residents statewide will lose coverage.
Those seeking support can find a comprehensive list of available resources at the NMCLP’s website.
