Insurance superintendent guarantees free COVID-19 testing and treatment for New Mexicans
SANTA FE (KSMX)- Though there are no known cases of Coronavirus in Curry or Roosevelt Counties, state officials have continued their efforts of containing the now ten *presumptive positive confirmed cases in New Mexico.
Per a news release from the Governor’s Office:
In response to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s March 11 declaration of a public health emergency, Superintendent of Insurance Russell Toal has issued an emergency rule prohibiting health insurers from imposing cost-sharing, including copays, coinsurance and deductibles, for testing and health care services related to COVID-19. The rule also covers pneumonia, influenza, or any disease or condition that is the subject of a public health emergency.
“Gov. Lujan Grisham has made clear that New Mexico will take aggressive, proactive steps to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19. A key part of that strategy is ensuring access to free, high-quality care, including testing and treatment,” said Superintendent Toal. “We thank New Mexico insurers for cooperating with OSI in the formulation of this rule.”
Additionally, Superintendent Toal issued two orders related to oversight of insurers during a public health emergency.
The first order requires insurers to provide major medical coverage and insurers providing limited benefits coverage to notify their members whether and to what extent their policies cover testing and health care services related to COVID-19. Additionally, if an insurer only offers limited coverage, they must notify their members of available full-coverage options.
The second-order requires limited benefit plans (such as workers’ compensation and automobile medical payment insurance) to provide notice to their members that their plans do not provide comprehensive medical coverage and to give members information on where they should go to check on their eligibility to apply for and obtain such coverage.
The City of Clovis is closely monitoring COVID-19 and the impacts on the community as well.
“As this situation rapidly evolves, we will provide updates and information through the City of Clovis and Clovis/Curry County Office of Emergency Management Facebook pages.”
*Cases are presumptive positive until confirmed positive by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
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