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Helping You Prepare for the 2026 Medicare Supplement Sales Cycle

Jan. 21, 2026

Applies to Medicare Markets

The 2026 sales cycle begins Feb. 1, 2026, for Medicare Supplement plans effective April 1. Members will receive their annual rate change notice in the coming weeks. As these letters prompt questions from members about coverage and pricing, we’re sharing the latest information to support you in these conversations.

2026 Annual Rate Change Notice

Annual rate change letters will be mailed to members in mid- to late January. The rate displayed in the notices is the rate before any discounts are applied to the premiums. There is no information about discounts in the notices.

Members will see the new rate reflected on their first premium payment on or after April 1, depending on the member’s billing cycle. Rates vary by plan and rating factors. For specific plan rates, refer to the outline of coverage or rate book.

Members looking to reduce their premium can always switch to another plan and review our discount options. A new application is required for current members looking to switch plans; however, a Notice of Replacement form is only needed if your client is switching from another carrier to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico. 

2026 Medicare Supplement Plans

Compare all plan benefits. At a glance, we offer:

  • Plan A: Basic benefit option
  • Plan G: Comprehensive plan option
  • Plan G Plus: Innovative plan option
  • High-Deductible Plan G: Budget-conscious plan option
  • Plan N: Budget-conscious plan option
  • Plan F: Only available to anyone who was eligible for Medicare before 2020
  • High-Deductible Plan F: Only available to anyone who was eligible for Medicare before 2020

Options to Lower Plan Premiums

High-deductible plans offer the same benefits as their standard plan counterparts at a lower monthly premium. However, members must first pay their deductible before coverage starts. This might be a good option for members who anticipate fewer health care expenses but still want peace of mind.

Medicare Supplement Discounts

Blue Family Discount (12%): Applicants must meet the criteria for both the household discount and the Continue with Blue discount. This discount is only available to members who are enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan issued with an effective date on or after April 1, 2024.

Household Discount (10%): Applicants must reside with a spouse or civil union/domestic partner or have resided with up to three adults aged 60 or older for the last 12 months. 

Continue with Blue Discount (7%): Applicants must have been enrolled in a commercial group plan or an individual health plan with an effective date on or after April 1, 2022. Applicants’ prior health coverage must have been active within one year of their Medicare Supplement plan becoming effective. Prior coverage can be from any Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan (no longer limited to our Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas).

Discount conditions: These discounts last as long as members’ Medicare Supplement plans are active. Discounts cannot be applied retroactively and are not available to members previously enrolled in government plans (MMAI, Medicaid, etc.). Members can only benefit from one discount. 

Double Check Every Application Before You Submit It

Please review and confirm the applicant's information on their application, especially the applicant’s name, date of birth, gender, Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) and plan effective date.  

Why it matters:

  • If you put the wrong date of birth, the applicant’s rates will be impacted, and it may result in a misquote.
  • If you put the wrong name, gender, date of birth or MBI, the applicant’s claims could go unpaid or there could be a significant delay in processing. It is important that the applicant’s name appears exactly as it does on their Medicare card. Do not use nicknames, unless Medicare is using their nickname. Claims cross over to us from Medicare, so it is important that this information matches. This also includes information that is housed at Medicare but may not be on their Medicare card. If there is a mismatch with the applicant’s name, gender, date of birth or MBI, their claims may not cross over to us to be paid. 
  • If you put the wrong effective date, the applicant could incur a gap in coverage. When applying electronically, there is a default date that automatically populates. Select the correct effective date prior to submission.

Enrollment Materials

These enrollment materials will be available on Feb. 1. on the BCBSNM website.

  • Application  
  • Outline of Coverage 
  • Payment Option Authorization Form (ezBlueSM) 

New: Due to recent website updates, you now need to enter the beneficiary’s ZIP code, county and plan to get the application, outline of coverage and payment form.

Medicare Supplement marketing and advertising materials for 2026 are in development and will be posted to the Producer Supply Portal in February.

Commissions Highlights  

The compensation schedule for 2026 is posted on Blue Access for ProducersSM , under the Commissions tab. No changes were made to the compensation schedule this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions, we have answers. Get the 2026 Medicare Supplement FAQ on the Producer Supply Portal . It has explanations to common questions – from rates to plan offerings, discounts and more.