Your Questions

Lovelace notified us they plan to leave our networks on June 1, 2026, unless we sign new contracts. If we aren’t able to reach an agreement, Lovelace doctors, hospitals and other facilities will no longer be in our networks as of June 1.

We’re working closely with Lovelace leadership and hope to sign new contracts before June 1. We want agreements that compensate Lovelace appropriately while being good stewards of your health care dollars. We value our relationship with Lovelace, but it’s also important that the contracts we agree to offer quality cost-effective care for our members and the local businesses we serve.

Our goal is to keep giving you cost-effective access to a broad network of providers. We watch the market closely to make sure we offer competitive rates to providers. This helps lower the cost of your premiums.

As a member-owned organization, we know you expect us to protect your health care dollars. The rates we negotiate with providers impact the amount you pay. Health care is a major cost for many people, and we owe it to you to keep prices down.

We’re hopeful. We’ll update this site when we have news to share.

If we can’t reach an agreement with Lovelace, and you’d like to stay in-network for your care, we’ll be here to make your move to other doctors and hospitals in your network as seamless as possible. We have a robust network of providers to ensure you have access to quality in-network health care.

PPO members: Not necessarily. If you have a PPO plan that provides coverage for out-of-network benefits, you can choose to get care anywhere you want, including Lovelace. Out-of-pocket costs may be higher if you do. We recommend verifying your out-of-network benefits and weighing your options to maximize your health benefits. 

HMO members: If you have an HMO plan, you must seek in-network care for your benefits to apply, except in emergencies.

Emergency services for PPO and HMO: In the case of a life-threatening illness or injury, go to the nearest emergency facility right away. Emergency services are covered at your in-network benefit level for both PPO and HMO. Your responsibility for any additional charges will depend on your health plan and applicable law. Learn about surprise billing at bcbsnm.com.

If your PCP is with Lovelace and leaves our networks on June 1, 2026, we can help you find a new PCP.

• Visit bcbsnm.com and select Find Care, or visit your online provider directory 
• Log in to or sign up for your member account online or use the BCBSNM App 
• Call the number on your member ID card  

After June 1, 2026, if you haven’t selected a new PCP, we’ll choose one for you and send you a new member ID card with your new PCP name. You can change this selection at any time. To change your PCP, log in to your member account online or use the BCBSNM App to make the switch.

This negotiation may affect Blue Cross and Blue Shield members with plans in other states who access Lovelace. Call the number on your member ID card to review your plan’s coverage or for help finding in-network options.

When scheduling future procedures, we’ll let doctors know of the possible contract expiration and work with them to avoid disrupting your care. If needed, we’ll help them transition your care or schedule procedures with other in-network doctors, hospitals or facilities.

You have many choices for quality, cost-effective care. For personalized search results based on your health plan and network, you can log in to your member account online or use the BCBSNM App. You can also call the number on your member ID card. Customer advocates will help answer questions about your specific benefits and provide guidance.

Yes. In the case of a life-threatening illness or injury, go to the nearest emergency facility right away. Emergency services are covered at your in-network benefit level. Your responsibility for any additional charges will depend on your health plan and applicable law.

If you are pregnant or being treated for a disability, acute condition or life-threatening illness, you may qualify as a continuity-of-care patient. This means you may still be able to receive care at Lovelace at your in-network benefit level even if they are no longer in our networks.

If you are eligible for continuity of care, you will not be balance billed or have to pay more than the amount covered by your plan, even if Lovelace charges more.

To find out whether you qualify for continuity of care, call the number on your member ID card. Customer Advocates will help answer questions about your specific benefits and provide guidance. Your doctor may also start the continuity-of-care process by calling the prior authorization number on your member ID card.

BCBSNM members: You may start the process by completing a Request for Continued Access to Providers form or by calling the number on your member ID card. Forms should be faxed to the number on the form. Once reviewed, you and/or your doctor may be contacted for more information, like medical records. A decision will be made and shared with you or your doctor, most often in less than a week.

Members of other Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans: If you are a member of a Blue Plan other than BCBSNM, you may call the number on your member ID card for help.

View the list.

The doctors and health care professionals employed by Lovelace are part of this negotiation.

Not necessarily. Many doctors have privileges at other hospitals, or they can apply for privileges at other in-network hospitals. Additionally, some health plans allow you to choose to go out-of-network. If you do, you will pay more out-of-pocket for any care you receive by out-of-network providers or at out-of-network facilities. If you have questions, call the number on your member ID card. Our customer advocates will help answer questions about your specific benefits and provide guidance.

The doctors employed by Lovelace are part of this negotiation. If we don’t come to an agreement, the doctors and the facilities will no longer be in network as of June 1.

If your doctor is not employed by Lovelace, but only has privileges at Lovelace facilities, we want to help. We’re offering doctors who only have privileges at Lovelace facilities the chance to send you to other in-network facilities.

Talk with your doctor. Ask if they are thinking about getting admitting privileges at another in-network facility.

If you have a procedure scheduled at a Lovelace facility on or after June 1, 2026, please call the number on your member ID card to ask about your benefit coverage.

If you have a procedure performed before June 1, 2026, and your hospital stay goes past June 1, 2026, your care may be covered at the in-network level. We’ll work closely with Lovelace to try to avoid issues with your bill, so you can focus on getting better.