Nursing Homes in New Mexico

Renowned for its mountain resorts, dramatic landscapes and arid high-desert climate, New Mexico has been a sought-after retirement destination for decades. Today, seniors represent 18% of the state’s 2,096,829 residents, and New Mexico is projected to have the nation’s fourth-largest senior population by 2030.

While New Mexico has four unique regions, many of the state’s amenities and top-performing medical facilities are located in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and other major cities. The state is also home to 76 nursing homes that accommodate more than 5,800 residents. These facilities provide intermediate or skilled care to residents who have advanced medical needs or require specialized rehabilitative services. According to Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey, which tracks nursing home costs nationally and regionally, a semiprivate room in New Mexico costs $7,406 per month. Residents pay $8,304, about $900 more, for private accommodations. Although skilled nursing is more expensive than other forms of long-term care, rates tend to be lower than the U.S. average.

This guide looks at average nursing home costs in New Mexico and programs that can help with these expenses. It also provides information about nursing home regulations, government agencies and nonprofits that can help along the way.

Seniors in New Mexico benefit from competitive nursing home rates averaging around $7,406 per month. Although prices are $350 lower than the U.S. median, they’re higher than most neighboring states. Average rates range from $5,019 in Texas, which represents a monthly savings of $2,387, to $8,517 in Colorado where rates are $1,111 higher. Seniors in Arizona pay $6,844 or about $560 less per month of care. Average rates are also $1,018 lower in Utah and $2,083 lower in Oklahoma.

Nursing home costs in New Mexico vary by more than $3,300 per month. Albuquerque, the state’s most populous city, is the most expensive option at $8,330. Seniors in Santa Fe pay $8,060 per month, which is $654 more than the state median. Rates are slightly more affordable than average in Las Cruces at $7,336, and seniors in Farmington pay $6,915 per month, about $500 less than the state median. Several other cities provide a more competitive value, especially near the Texas border. In Roswell and El Paso, rates average around $5,232. Clovis is similar to Amarillo at $5,171, and Hobbs is even lower at $5,019, which is comparable to Odessa.

Long-term care costs in New Mexico are relatively affordable across the board. However, nursing homes are the most expensive option with an average monthly cost of $7,406. Household services and medical assistance provided by home health care agencies cost $4,290-$4,385 per month, which is slightly lower than the national average. Assisted living facilities cost $3,356 less than skilled nursing at $4,050 per month, and adult day health care costs $2,513, which is higher than in other parts of the country.

New Mexico’s Medicaid program is called Centennial Care, and it is administered through the Human Service Department (HSD). As of late 2021, Centennial Care enrolled 809,955 residents, of whom 20%, or approximately 162,000, were seniors and/or disabled. The state has 70 nursing homes with 6,942 licensed beds. Centennial Care typically covers the entirety of nursing home costs for eligible seniors, including room and board, therapies, daily activities and 24-hour nursing care.

Centennial Care is a managed care program, with services provided through one of three entities, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Presbyterian. With this general Medicaid program, seniors receive full coverage of nursing home services and some personal care assistance.

The state also offers a Medicaid Waiver program for seniors who wish to avoid institutional care. This is known as a Community Benefit version of Centennial Care, and it includes services such as adult day care, respite and assistance with activities of daily living.

Seniors interested in applying for Centennial Care can do so online, over the phone or in person.

Online: Interested seniors can visit the YESNM website to apply for coverage. First, applicants will create a username and password for the site. Once they have created and verified the account, they can complete the application online and submit when finished.

Telephone: Seniors can apply for Medicaid over the phone by calling the Consolidated Customer Service Center at 800-283-4465 anytime; alternatively, they may call the hotline Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and speak with a company representative directly.

Paper application: Seniors can download the paper application, fill it out completely, sign it and mail it to the following address:

Central ASPEN Scanning Area
PO Box 830
Bernalillo, NM, 87004

Alternatively, they can fax the completed application to 1-855-804-8960, or deliver it in person to their local Income Support Division (ISD) office.

Information You Will Need

During the application process, you will need to establish proof of citizenship and residency in addition to proof of income. Please ensure you have the following ready:

• A U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, certificate of U.S. citizenship, government-issued ID or proof of membership in a federally recognized Native tribe
• If you don’t have stand-alone evidence proving citizenship, a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. citizen identification card, final adoption decree or another comparable document may be acceptable
• Proof of income, which might include bank statements, pay stubs, income tax statements, Social Security award letters or hand-written notes

While Medicaid and Medicare are two of the most common programs used to pay for Nursing Home Care, there are other financial assistance options available, depending on your unique situation.