CHRISTUS Health Advantage, Humana and HealthSpring have the best Medicare Advantage plans in New Mexico. CHRISTUS combines relatively low annual cost exposure with competitive quality ratings, while Humana has the broadest reach among the top carriers. HealthSpring has the lowest median cost exposure in our analysis. We evaluated all New Mexico Medicare Advantage companies and plans on affordability, quality and member experience, supplemental benefits and geographic coverage.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in New Mexico (2026)
Updated: September 9, 2026
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Best Medicare Advantage Companies in New Mexico
| Overall rating based on cost, quality, benefits and availability. | Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum. | Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans. | Number of New Mexico counties where plans are offered. | Number of Medicare Advantage plans offered in New Mexico. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CHRISTUS Health Advantage | 4.2 | $4,550 | 3.5 | 8 | 2 |
Humana | 4.2 | $4,964 | 3.5 | 29 | 11 |
HealthSpring | 4.1 | $4,201 | 3.0 | 8 | 1 |
UnitedHealthcare | 4.0 | $5,900 | 4.0 | 29 | 16 |
Presbyterian Health Plan | 3.9 | $5,289 | 3.0 | 8 | 4 |
Blue Cross Blue Shield | 3.8 | $5,820 | 3.0 | 31 | 9 |
New Mexico Medicare Advantage Market Overview
Most New Mexico Medicare Advantage plans have $0 premiums, but potential out-of-pocket costs vary widely. For 2026, 76% of plans charge no additional premium, while MOOP limits range from $2,800 to $9,250, a $6,450 difference in annual cost exposure. You can choose from 49 non-SNP plan options from eight carriers, though carrier and plan availability vary by county.
Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans | 49 | New Mexico has a moderate-sized Medicare Advantage market, with enough options for meaningful comparison. |
Carriers | 8 | Competition is spread across eight insurers with differences in cost, networks and benefits. |
CMS contracts | 15 | Several carriers operate more than one CMS contract, so quality ratings can differ even among plans from the same insurer. |
Median plans per county | 13 | Carrier and plan availabiity varies by county, but most counties have a number of options to choose from. |
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans | 228,111 | More than 228,000 beneficiaries are enrolled in the non-SNP plans analyzed. |
Plans with a $0 premium | 76% | Three in four plans charge no additional monthly premium. Cost sharing and out-of-pocket limits are especially important for comparing overall value. |
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP) | $4,900 | You could be liable for thousands of dollars in medical expenses even with a $0 premium plan. |
MOOP range | $2,800–$9,250 | Choosing the lowest-MOOP plan instead of the highest could reduce your annual cost exposure by $6,450. |
Average CMS star rating | 3.58 out of 5 | Overall plan quality in New Mexico falls below the 4-star quality benchmark on average. |
Contracts with 4+ CMS star rating | 27% | Nearly three-quarters of New Mexico contracts are below the 4-star quality benchmark. |
Christus Health Plan
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
3.9/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$4,550Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
8Plans Available
2
Humana
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.6/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$4,964Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
29Plans Available
11
HealthSpring
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
3.4/5Quality & Member Experience
4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$4,201Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
8Plans Available
1
UnitedHealthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4/ 5
3.6/5Affordability
4.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,900Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
29Plans Available
16
Presbyterian Health Plan
MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
3.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,289Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
8Plans Available
4
Blue Cross Blue Shield
MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ 5
3.9/5Affordability
3.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,820Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
31Plans Available
9
How to Choose the Best Medicare Advantage Plans in New Mexico
The best Medicare Advantage plan for you depends on your health care needs, prescription costs, preferred providers and budget.
- 1Confirm Your Doctors and Hospitals Are In-Network
Check that your doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals participate in the specific plan you're considering. Provider networks can differ even among plans offered through the same insurer.
- 2Compare Total Costs, Not Just Premiums
A $0 premium doesn't necessarily mean lower overall costs. Compare copays, coinsurance and deductibles to estimate what you'll actually spend based on how often you use care.
- 3Check Prescription Drug Coverage
Review each plan's formulary to confirm that your prescriptions are covered and check their drug tiers. Higher-tier medications cost more, and some drugs require prior authorization.
- 4Compare Different Plan Types
HMOs work well if your preferred providers are in-network and you don't need much out-of-network flexibility. HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network coverage, while PPOs have greater provider flexibility and are suited for frequent travelers or people who see specialists across multiple health systems.
- 5Review Star Ratings and Quality Metrics
CMS rates Medicare Advantage plans on a 1-to-5-star scale using measures such as preventive care, chronic condition management and member experience. Higher ratings indicate stronger performance across CMS quality measures.
- 6Compare Extra Benefits
Dental, vision, hearing, fitness and over-the-counter benefits add value, but coverage and allowances vary by plan. Compare benefits you'll actually use rather than choosing based on the number of extras offered.
How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in New Mexico?
Median Medicare Advantage rates in New Mexico are $0 per month across all plan types, but cost sharing varies widely. HMOs have the lowest median out-of-pocket maximum (MOOP) at $4,200 and the lowest specialist copay at $25, while HMO-POS and PPO plans have a median $5,900 MOOP limit. HMO-POS plans have the highest median inpatient and specialist copays, at $550 and $42 respectively.
Median Monthly Premium | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Median Max Out-of-Pocket | $4,200 | $5,900 | $5,900 |
Median Inpatient Copay | $325 | $550 | $370 |
Median PCP Copay | $15 | $15 | $15 |
Median Specialist Copay | $25 | $42 | $35 |
New Mexico Medicare Advantage Resources
New Mexico seniors can get free help comparing Medicare Advantage plans, understanding benefits and navigating enrollment through state and federal resources.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder: Compare Medicare Advantage plans available in your ZIP code, including premiums, drug coverage, benefits and star ratings.
- New Mexico State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): Get free, unbiased Medicare counseling and help comparing plans, understanding coverage and making enrollment decisions.
- New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department: Find Medicare education, benefits assistance and referrals to aging and disability services throughout New Mexico.
- Social Security Administration: Enroll in Medicare and get help with Medicare eligibility and premium-related issues online, by phone or through a local office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medicare Advantage open enrollment in New Mexico is Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. Current members can also make plan changes from Jan. 1 through March 31.
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does. Most plans also include prescription drug coverage. Dental, vision and fitness benefits are included with many plans but not all, check each plan's summary of benefits before enrolling.
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with bundled coverage from a private insurer. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to cover costs like deductibles and copays that Original Medicare leaves unpaid.
Our Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated New Mexico Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2026 plan year, including the Medicare Plan Landscape File, Plan Benefit Package files, CMS Star Ratings, the CAHPS Report Card Master Table and the Contract/Plan Enrollment file.
How We Score Carriers
Each carrier in the state receives an overall MoneyGeek score out of five from a weighted average of three category scores:
- Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure, calculated as annual premiums plus the maximum out-of-pocket limit, along with inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
- Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings make up 60% of this category and CAHPS C26 member ratings make up 40%. Both are measured at the contract level.
- Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, make up 50% of this category. County coverage makes up 30% and plan choice per county makes up 20%.
About Patrick Bryant
Patrick Bryant is the Vertical Lead for Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches insurance products, writes consumer guides and maintains the scoring methodologies behind our provider comparisons. He analyzed more than 100 health insurance carriers across all 50 U.S. states and multiple policy types. His methodologies are reviewed quarterly to reflect current market conditions and carrier data.