Obamacare and BeWell both exist for the same reason: to help connect everyone in the U.S. with quality health insurance.
But the two are not the same thing. For starters, “Obamacare” is not a health insurance plan or carrier. Actually, it’s the law that helped make state health insurance exchanges like BeWell possible.
Let’s discuss each of these important topics and how they work to connect New Mexicans with quality, affordable health insurance.
What Is Obamacare?
Obamacare is a nickname for a law called the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law went into effect in 2010 to make health insurance available to more people. It expanded health coverage to people with preexisting conditions like cancer, pregnancy, and diabetes.
Obamacare also established state Health Insurance Marketplaces (like BeWell) that offer people with low income and those who can’t get health insurance at work a chance to buy affordable coverage.
As of early 2023, more than 40 million people in the U.S. have health insurance under the Affordable Care Act—the most in history. Plans cover a range of benefits, including well visits, prescription medicines, and mental health and substance use treatment.
Related reading: Need Insurance? A Guide to Understanding Your Enrollment Options
What Is BeWell?
You know us as BeWell, but our full name is the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange. BeWell is one of the state-based health exchanges that was founded under Obamacare to help connect New Mexicans with affordable health insurance.
Think of us as a shopping center for health insurance. On our website, you can find everything you need to get insurance:
- Plans from top carriers in New Mexico:
- Ambetter from Western Sky Community Care
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico
- Presbyterian Health Plan
- Molina Healthcare
- United Healthcare (new in 2024)
- Shop and compare tool to find the right plan
- 1:1 help to enroll from our Certified Assisters
BeWell is the only insurance exchange in the state of New Mexico that offers subsidies to help you pay for health insurance, like the Advance Premium Tax Credit for people with low income and cost-sharing for Native Americans.
You may be eligible to get a health plan through BeWell if you:
- Live in New Mexico
- Are not covered by an affordable plan through work
- Are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid
Related reading: Health Insurance 101: How to Enroll with BeWell
Obamacare set up the rules. State exchanges like BeWell work with you to find health insurance that fits your health needs and budget.
Make sense? Great! Now it’s time to find the perfect plan for you.
Schedule a one-on-one appointment with a BeWell Certified Assister today. We’ll give you one help in signing up, at no cost to you. Schedule an appointment today.
