2nd October Newsletter

HEALTH INSURANCE OPEN ENROLLMENT CAN BRING QUESTIONS AND CONFUSION

 
Mid-October starts the Open Enrollment season. This is when you can make changes to your current health insurance plan. The information below covers government administered health insurance including: Medicare; NM State Employees & employees of Local Public Bodies; and people insured by ACA (Obamacare) insurance through BeWellNM.com. 

If Medicaid is your health plan check your annual recertification date through yes.nm.gov. 

If you have private health insurance or insurance from a non-government employer check with your insurance company, they set the open enrollment dates for those plans. 

Watch Out for Scams

During Open Enrollment, you'll see lots of ads on TV, in emails, in the mail, and on social media. Be careful! Scammers use this busy time to trick people. They pretend to help you find insurance, but they really want to steal your information or money.
 

Get Free Help

New Mexico has free helpers who can guide you through choosing or updating a health plan. Remember: These helpers only care about finding the right plan for YOU! See below for more details.
 

Medicare (for people 65 and older) - Open Enrollment: October 15 - December 7

• Go to in-person events (see list below for locations near you)

• Call SHIP counselors on 1-800-432-2080.

• SHIP stands for State Health Insurance Assistance Program

• They give free advice and don't sell insurance.

• Use this helpful form to prepare: Medicare-Organizer.pdf .
   

Medicare Fall Open Enrollment One-on-One SHIP Counseling Events: 

Santa Fe County

Rufina Meal Site

11/10/2025 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

2323 Casa Rufina Rd, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Edgewood Senior Center 

10/31/2025 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM

114 Quail Trail, Edgewood, New Mexico
 

Torrance County

Moriarty Senior Center

10/27/2025 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM 

120 Roosevelt Ave, Moriarty, New Mexico
 

Valencia County

Belen Senior Center 

11/03/2025 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

715 S. Main Street, Belen, New Mexico

Fred Luna Multigenerational Center 

11/21/2025 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

197 Don Pasqual, Los Lunas, New Mexico

Meadow Lake Community Center 

12/02/2025 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

100 Cuerro Lane, Los Lunas, New Mexico

State & Local Public Body (LPB) Employees - Open Enrollment: October 20 - November 20

Note: This enrollment is for a six-month period from January 1, 2026 - June 30, 2026. This will align the State Employee insurance with the State’s Fiscal Year. 
 

• Webinars are offered to help understand the new changes for the State Insurance plans. Dates are October 29th and November 6th, 13th & 19th (additional dates may be added). To register for the webinars and find more information here: https://www.mybenefitsnm.com/open-enrollment.html 
   

BeWellNM (New Mexico's ACA health insurance) - Open Enrollment: November 1 - January 15, 2026

• Join virtual (online) events every Wednesday in November plus Friday the 14th & 21st and Monday the 24th. Find the times and links here: https://bewellnm.com/events/ 

• Sign up for text reminders: Text "JOIN" to 844-515-5554

• Call 833-To-BeWell for help.

• Make an appointment online at: Schedule an Appointment - BeWellNM 

   

Free State Parks Visits!

Good news for New Mexico residents! From October 1st through April 30th, you can visit any New Mexico State Park for free during the day.

How to Get Free Entry:

• Show your New Mexico ID card, OR

• Drive a car with New Mexico license plates.

That's it! No day use fee during these months, but overnight camping fees still apply.
 

Explore New Mexico's Parks

New Mexico has 35 state parks all across the state. This is a great time to find a new favorite place! You can visit parks with lakes, creeks, canyons, dams, and even unusual spots like an Oasis or a "City of Rocks."
 

Important to Know:

• Some parks in northern New Mexico and higher mountains may close bathrooms or some areas during winter.

• But many parks stay open all year.

• Find information about each park here: Find a park 

• You can also reserve camping spots at this website if you want to stay overnight.
   

The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division has created a new website to help us prepare for the unexpected when we explore New Mexico. Use the link here Outdoor Health & Safety to find helpful info and links to valuable resources. 

Special Benefit for Veterans

New Mexico veterans can visit AND camp at all state parks for free all year long! Get your free pass by filling out this form: Application for State Park Unlimited Pass

Opportunities for Family Boosters 

It is time to protect yourself and your family from getting sick this fall and winter.

Talk to your doctor about getting vaccines for:

• Flu

• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

• COVID-19

Your doctor will help you decide which shots you need and when to get them.

Where to Get Your Shots You can get flu shots at many places:  Your doctor's office; pharmacies; grocery stores with pharmacies; medical clinics; public health offices.

Need Help Finding a Location If you can't find a place near you, use this link to find a Public Health Office: https://www.nmhealth.org/location/public/ 

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD 

It is your right and privilege to vote. November 4th is Election Day for many local offices and ballot issues. 
 

To learn more about who is running in your local elections the League of Women Voters offers www.Vote411.org. This is a website that provides information on your local ballot questions without influence of any political party. It can also help you find your polling place and if early voting options are available. 
 

Help shape your community’s future by exercising your right to vote.

Have a question or need assistance?

Please reach out to my District Legislative Aide (DLA), Anne Strader. She can be reached at anne.strader@nmlegis.gov or 505-946-5589.  She is also available to meet in person in our office space on the Santa Fe Community College campus, call or email her to set a date and time. 

Liz Stefanics

Senator, District 39