MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT OPEN ENROLLMENT
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SB 21 — MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT OPEN ENROLLMENT
Last action — Signed
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed Senate
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✓Passed House
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 26, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic) on March 04, 2026.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
HighHow often bills like it became law.
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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5 sponsors
5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (4 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
117 added · 1 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of SB 21 now includes a requirement for issuers of Medicare supplement policies to provide designated open enrollment periods for their policies. This change is significant because it improves access to coverage for seniors by allowing them a specific time to enroll without facing penalties or increased premiums. By establishing these open enrollment periods, the bill aims to ensure that more individuals have the opportunity to secure important health insurance benefits when they need them most.
57THAN LEGISLATUREACT -STATEOFNEWMEXICO-RELATING SECONDTO SESSION,HEALTH 2026INSURANCE;
REQUIRING ISSUERS OF MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT POLICIES TO PROVIDE OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIODS.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1.
Section 59A-24A-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 28, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read:
"59A-24A-3.
DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Medicare Supplement Act:
A.
"applicant" means:
(1) in the case of an individual medicare supplement policy, the person who seeks to contract for insurance benefits;
or (2) in the case of a group medicare supplement policy, the proposed certificate holder;
B.
"certificate" means any certificate delivered or issued for delivery in this state under a group medicare supplement policy;
C.
"certificate form" means the document on which a certificate is delivered or issued for delivery;
D.
"eligible policyholder" means a beneficiary of medicare coverage provided pursuant to part A or part B of Title 18 of the federal Social Security Act, as amended, who is sixty-five years of age or older and insured under a medicare supplement policy;
SB 21 Page 1 E.
"issuer" means insurance companies, fraternal benefit societies, nonprofit health care plans, health maintenance organizations and any other entities that deliver or issue for delivery in this state medicare supplement policies or certificates;
F.
"medicare" means the federal Health Insurance for the Aged Act, Title XVIII of the Social Security Amendments of 1965, as then constituted or later amended;
G.
"medicare supplement policy" means:
(1) a group policy as defined in Chapter 59A, Article 23 NMSA 1978;
(2) an individual policy as defined in Chapter 59A, Article 22 NMSA 1978;
or (3) a group or individual certificate issued pursuant to the Nonprofit Health Care Plan Law or the Health Maintenance Organization Law that is advertised, marketed or designed as a supplement to reimbursements under medicare for the hospital, medical or surgical expenses of persons eligible for medicare;
H.
"policy form" means the document on which a policy is delivered or issued for delivery by the issuer;
and I.
"superintendent" means the superintendent of insurance." SECTION 2.
A new section of the Medicare Supplement Act is enacted to read:
SB 21 Page 2 "ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT.-- A.
Every issuer participating in the market for medicare supplement policies shall offer an annual open enrollment period to all eligible policyholders.
Each eligible policyholder's open enrollment period shall commence with the first day of the eligible policyholder's birthday month and remain open for at least sixty days thereafter.
During the open enrollment period:
(1) each eligible policyholder may purchase any medicare supplement policy of an equal or lesser value to the eligible policyholder's current medicare supplement policy offered in this state;
and (2) an issuer shall:
(a) guarantee the issuance of any medicare supplement policy offered in this state;
and (b) not deny, delay or condition the issuance or effectiveness, or discriminate in the price of coverage, of a medicare supplement policy based on the health status, claims, experience, receipt of health care or medical condition of an eligible policyholder.
B.
Show all 50 changed lines (10 more)
A medicare supplement policy obtained by an eligible policyholder pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall not have any coverage exclusions related to preexisting conditions that would have been covered under the eligible policyholder's previous medicare supplement policy.
SB 21 Page 3 C.
At least thirty days before the beginning of an eligible policyholder's open enrollment period, but not more than sixty days before the beginning of the open enrollment period, the issuer of an eligible policyholder's medicare supplement policy shall notify the eligible policyholder of:
(1) the dates on which the open enrollment period begins and ends;
(2) the rights provided to the eligible policyholder by this section;
and (3) any modifications to the medicare supplement policy currently held by the eligible policyholder or any adjustments to the premiums charged for that policy.
D.
The form and content of the notification required pursuant to Subsection C of this section shall be filed with and approved by the superintendent prior to distribution to eligible policyholders." SECTION 3.
EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is January 1, 2027.
SB 21 Page 4 25
Show all 50 changed rows (10 more)
View plain text versions (3)
- Final Version View text Current pdf
- Amended Amendments in Context pdf
- Introduced introduced version pdf
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
The bill establishes a requirement for issuers of Medicare supplement policies to provide annual open enrollment periods for eligible policyholders.
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Section 59A-24A-3
A new section of the Medicare Supplement Act is enacted to read: "ANNUAL OPEN ENROLLMENT.-- A. Every issuer participating in the market for medicare supplement policies shall offer an annual open enrollment period to all eligible policyholders. Each eligible policyholder's open enrollment period shall commence with the first day of the eligible policyholder's birthday month and remain open for at least sixty days thereafter. During the open enrollment period: (1) each eligible policyholder may purchase any medicare supplement policy of an equal or lesser value to the eligible policyholder's current medicare supplement policy offered in this state; and (2) an issuer shall: (a) guarantee the issuance of any medicare supplement policy offered in this state; and (b) not deny, delay or condition the issuance or effectiveness, or discriminate in the price of coverage, of a medicare supplement policy based on the health status, claims, experience, receipt of health care or medical condition of an eligible policyholder. B. A medicare supplement policy obtained by an eligible policyholder pursuant to Subsection A of this section shall not have any coverage exclusions related to preexisting conditions that would have been covered under the eligible policyholder's previous medicare supplement policy. C. At least thirty days before the beginning of an eligible policyholder's open enrollment period, but not more than sixty days before the beginning of the open enrollment period, the issuer of an eligible policyholder's medicare supplement policy shall notify the eligible policyholder of: (1) the dates on which the open enrollment period begins and ends; (2) the rights provided to the eligible policyholder by this section; and (3) any modifications to the medicare supplement policy currently held by the eligible policyholder or any adjustments to the premiums charged for that policy. D. The form and content of the notification required pursuant to Subsection C of this section shall be filed with and approved by the superintendent prior to distribution to eligible policyholders."
This newly enacted section mandates annual open enrollment periods for all eligible Medicare supplement policyholders.
Action History
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Signed
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passed House
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DO PASS committee report adopted
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Sent to House Health & Human Services Committee
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passed Senate
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DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted
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DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted
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germane
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Sent to Senate Committees' Committee & Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee & Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee
Sponsors
- Reena Szczepanski · Primary
- Rex Wilson · Primary
- Pete Campos · Primary
- Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics · Primary
- Martin Hickey · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 107 not signed on
Sponsors (5)
- Reena Szczepanski Democrat
- Rex Wilson Republican
- Pete Campos Democrat
- Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics Democrat
- Martin Hickey Democrat
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (107)
107 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 107 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 21?
- SB 21 is sponsored by Reena Szczepanski (Democrat), Rex Wilson (Republican), Pete Campos (Democrat), Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics (Democrat), and Martin Hickey (Democrat).
- What is the current status of SB 21?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 26, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track SB 21?
- Track SB 21 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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