News from the Blues

Nov. 12, 2025

How to Make Binder Payments Fast and Easy
Binder Payment 101: A binder payment is the initial payment your client needs to make to BCBSNM when buying a health plan. This payment, which covers their first month’s premium, must be paid within 30 days of enrolling in the plan. If the client doesn’t make this payment, their policy will not take effect (effectuate), so they won’t have health care coverage even though they signed up for it. If the client misses this payment and therefore their policy isn’t effectuated, they will not be able to get a new policy until the next year’s open enrollment period unless they have a life event that qualifies for special enrollment.

To help your clients, offer them these two options to make that first payment.

1. Pay online: Go to our Pay My Bill page and select “First-Time Payment” on the right. Applicants can pay with the last four digits of their Social Security number, birthdate and ZIP code.
2. Pay by phone: Call 866-236-1702  to use our automated interactive voice response (IVR) system. Select “1” at the first payment prompt.

• Current members who have ongoing payments: Log in to their member account and pay online.
  

• Current members can make a one-time online payment without having to set up or log in to their member accounts.
  

• Current members can also call 866-236-1702  and use our IVR system to pay by phone. Select “1” at the first payment prompt.