Need Healthcare? CNM Has Partnered with BeWellNM to Help Students Access Affordable or No-Cost Plans
During the COVID-19 pandemic the federal government approved continuous enrollment in Medicaid so that eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities never lost healthcare coverage. Continuous enrollment recently ended, but students who still need coverage can now access affordable health insurance plans through BeWellNM.
“We understand that having access to healthcare is essential not only for students’ success in the classroom, but in all areas of their lives,” says Mia Mendoza, Director of Wellness CNM. “The purpose of the partnership with BeWellNM is to break down barriers students often face and help them navigate this complex process with someone who is experienced and friendly.”
BeWellNM is a marketplace for New Mexicans who are no longer eligible for Medicaid to compare and enroll in low or no-cost health insurance plans. It also helps individuals who don’t receive insurance through their job access health coverage.
Mia says CNM teamed up with Tonya Bruno from BeWellNM because the college knew the sunsetting of continuous medicaid coverage would impact students almost immediately and wanted to have a plan to keep students insured.
“Mia and I connected to see how we could better support CNM students during this transition period,” says Tonya Bruno, BeWellNM’s Director of Outreach. “Students often work part-time which means they don’t receive employer benefits. They also may make too much money to qualify for Medicaid and/or have aged out of their parents insurance coverage, leaving them uninsured. BeWellNM exists to help in these exact situations. All of this to say, we’re here and ready to help CNM students get the healthcare coverage they need.”
BeWellNM does regular outreach on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month during Food Pantry hours on Main Campus, and they are also hosting several enrollment events throughout November to help people find and enroll in health insurance. Open Enrollment begins on Nov, 1, so it’s the perfect time for CNM students to take advantage of the BeWellNM services.
“The most important thing for students to know is that this service is here to support you,” Mia says. “If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t know where to start with health insurance this is your resource. We know this can feel really impossible when there’s so many different things going on in your life, but this partnership is here to make it feel more possible.”
Did you lose your Medicaid coverage or don’t have employer health benefits? Come to BeWellNM’s Open Enrollment Event on Nov.4 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Albuquerque International District Library or attend via Zoom. Can’t make it on Nov. 4? View full calendar of BeWellNM enrollment events.