What is a BCBSNM Gold Level Plan?

BCBSNM is a trusted brand across the state of New Mexico. With a strong network of providers across the state, you can feel confident in your care options. 

With a Gold level health insurance plan, you're paying more up front to help you and your family feel more secure when you need to visit the doctor or get health care.

The metallic, or metal, levels represent different levels of health insurance plan coverage established through the Affordable Care Act. All plans hosted on the Marketplace fall into a metallic level. With BCBSNM, you'll find Gold, Silver and Bronze levels when comparing your options. While each metallic level still covers the same essential benefits, they differ in their costs like premium, deductible, copay or coinsurance.

When you enroll in a health insurance plan with BCBSNM, you'll want to first choose your plan type. Then, you'll need to choose your metallic level based on how much you want to pay each month and when you need health care.

A metal level (Bronze, Silver or Gold) describes how you and your health plan share the cost of covered care. It can affect your monthly premium, deductible and what you pay when you receive care.

A plan type describes how you access care and which providers you can see. Common plan types include:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Uses a defined provider network and generally requires you to choose a primary care provider who coordinates your care.
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): Offers more flexibility to see providers in or outside the plan’s network, generally without a referral to see a specialist.
• POS (Point of Service): Combines features of HMO and PPO plans, with a primary care provider coordinating care and some coverage for out-of-network providers.

Metal level and plan type work together, but they mean different things. When comparing plans, consider both how costs are shared and how you prefer to access care.

For more information on plan types, visit our Help Center.

​​When you’re looking for a new health plan, you'll be able to find your available plans and their monthly costs on our shopping platform. The plans you can enroll in are determined by your ZIP code.  Your recommended plan is based on things like your premium tax credit savings, how often you plan on using your benefits, who your preferred doctor is and if you have prescriptions you'd like covered.

​With BCBSNM, you can find available plans and their costs by adding your information, like name and ZIP code, to our online shopping platform .

​Understand your health plan costs, like deductibles and premiums, and how they work together.

You may be able to, depending on the time of year and if you've gone through a recent life change!

There are two “seasons” for Individual and Family health insurance enrollment, each with different guidelines for enrolling in a new health plan. 

• Open Enrollment Period: During Open Enrollment, you’re free to pick a new Individual and Family plan. You don’t have to go through any life changes like you do during Special Enrollment. Open Enrollment starts Nov. 1 and typically lasts just over 2 months, ending Jan. 15. 

• Special Enrollment Period: During Special Enrollment, you can choose a new health plan if you’ve gone through certain life changes that affect your coverage. Some of the more common events are losing or changing jobs, getting married, having or adopting a child or moving. Learn more about the Special Enrollment period.

Most of your plan’s benefits can be found in your Summary of Benefits (SBCs). There, you’ll find a brief breakdown of your plan’s costs, covered services, benefits, and more. If you're already a member with BCBSNM, you can also log in to your member account   to access your plan details.