Member Updates

The current open enrollment period closes on March 31. However, if you tried to apply through the Health Connector during open enrollment for health insurance without help paying for costs, but were unable to complete enrollment because of IT systems issues (such as website errors), you will now have until April 15 to enroll in a plan. Because of IT system issues, not everyone who tried to apply for health insurance has been able to complete the process. Trouble with completing enrollment will now be considered a qualifying event that allows you to shop through the Health Connector after open enrollment has ended during this limited time only (April 1 – April 15). If this situation applies to you, you will need to pick a plan by April 15 that starts either May 1 or June 1, and pay the first premium by its due date in order to be enrolled. You will need to confirm that you tried to apply online or over the phone during the open enrollment period, but were not successful in doing so. In general, the open enrollment period is the only time of year when people who are applying for coverage without help paying for costs can enroll or change a plan for any reason. However, when a person experiences a qualifying event such as birth of a child, marriage, or loss of insurance through a job, the Health Connector allows that person to enroll in health insurance outside of open enrollment. People who [...]

The open enrollment period for purchasing health coverage ends March 31, 2014. If you are applying for coverage without help paying for costs, Monday, March 24, was the last day to apply and select a plan in order to enroll in coverage beginning April 1, 2014. You can still apply and select a plan through March 31 to enroll in coverage beginning May 1 or June 1, 2014. Get started now →   Please Note: If you are applying for coverage with help paying for costs—including ConnectorCare, MassHealth, Children’s Medical Security Plan (CMSP), or Health Safety Net—you can apply at any timeduring the year if you miss the March 31 deadline. If you are determined eligible for one of these programs, you will not have to wait until next year’s open enrollment period to enroll.     Are you applying for coverage without help paying for costs for the first time? Are you applying for coverage with help paying for costs for the first time? Are you a Commonwealth Care or Network Health Extend Member? Are you enrolled in the temporary coverage program? Are you a Commonwealth Choice member who received a Fast Path enrollment packet? Are you a Commonwealth Choice member who did not receive a Fast Path enrollment packet?     Contact Us Call Customer Service at 1-877-623-6765 (TTY: 711). Support is available in all languages. Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Get Started Apply NowFind In-Person HelpVisit the Help Center Are you applying for coverage without help paying for costs for the first [...]

Commonwealth Care coverage for current members has been extended again through June 30, 2014. You do not need to take any action at this time to continue to get coverage, other than paying your premium bill in full and on time (if you have one). If you already re-applied through the Health Connector At this time, we have not yet been able to process your application. We apologize for any confusion, miscommunication, or delays you have experienced if you already submitted a new application for insurance through the Health Connector. As you may already know, our new website has not been performing the way that it was intended to. This has caused extreme difficulties in our ability to process any applications—whether submitted online, through a paper application, or over the phone—because we cannot determine eligibility for our members without this technology working. We are currently working to fix the systems that are necessary in order to be able to process your application. You will be contacted by phone and/or mail once we have determined which plans you can qualify for, and you will be able to choose a new plan and enroll at that time. However, you will continue to have health insurance coverage through Commonwealth Care until at least June 30, 2014. You will still have an opportunity to enroll in one of the new plans available through national health reform: If you already applied for new health coverage, you will be able to enroll in a new plan [...]

On February 13, 2014, the Health Connector, with support from the federal Center for Medicaid Services (CMS), announced three new steps in the Commonwealth’s effort to preserve coverage for people with health insurance through the Health Connector. Commonwealth Care and Medical Security Plan Members Commonwealth Care members and those who were previously in the Medical Security Plan (MSP) will have access to coverage through at least June 30, 2014. Previously, the extension ran until March 31, 2014. However, please note that some members may need to move to a different health plan. All members will receive a detailed notice in the mail. Temporary Coverage Program For members enrolled in the temporary coverage program, this program will also be extended until June 30, 2014 for those who are not successfully transitioned to coverage before that time. Commonwealth Choice Members Commonwealth Choice members will be offered a “Fast Path” to coverage in addition to shopping through the online system. Members who have not already enrolled in a new plan will have the option to “Sign, Pay, and Enroll” entirely offline into a new plan. The Health Connector has worked closely with the carriers to find plans that are most comparable to current plans through Commonwealth Choice. Starting the week of February 17, 2014, Commonwealth Choice members will receive an enrollment package by mail about their new plan options that will include  the opportunity to enroll by paying their first month’s premium. However, members are still free to shop for different coverage through the [...]

Temporary Coverage information and resources Read this important information about temporary coverage extension. If you have questions or need more information please call 1-855-MA-4-HLTH (855-624-4584). Toggle   If you submitted an application for subsidized coverage but have not received a determination for benefits, you will most likely be automatically enrolled in temporary health insurance coverage that starts January 1, 2014. You will continue to get this temporary coverage until we are able to determine which plans and programs you can qualify for. If this applies to you, you should get a letter in the mail with more information. You will not need to take any immediate action or make any payment to get this temporary coverage. If you qualify for temporary coverage: You will not need to take any action or pay any money to get this temporary coverage. You will be enrolled automatically for coverage. Your temporary benefits will cover a wide range of health care services. Read the Summary of Benefits for a list of covered services. You can get covered health care services from providers that participate in the MassHealth program. You will get a letter when we finish processing your application letting you know if you qualify for a health insurance plan through the Health Connector or through MassHealth. Once we have processed your application and made a decision about your eligibility, your temporary benefits will end.   What kind of care does this cover? Read the Summary of Benefits for a list of services that are covered through the Temporary [...]

Working with the support of our health insurance carriers, the Massachusetts Health Connector has extended the deadlines for members selecting and paying for a health insurance plan with coverage starting in January 2014. The new deadlines mean that you have until Tuesday, December 31, 2013, to select a plan and notify the Health Connector of that selection, and have extended deadlines for paying your premium. For information about what these new deadlines mean for you, please continue reading below. We appreciate this has been a confusing time and are confident these extended deadlines will give more people the opportunity to comfortably select and pay for a plan in time for coverage in January. Health Connector Plan (with no subsidies) If you are purchasing insurance through the Health Connector and did not request financial assistance, you will have until Tuesday, December 31, 2013, to select the plan you would like to have for coverage starting in January 2014. You can apply, select a play and pay online through the Health Connector’s website, MAhealthconnector.org. You can complete your plan selection online at mahealthconnector.org and submit an EFT payment at the time of plan selection online. If you have already selected a plan and need to pay, you must submit a check or money order by mail or in-person at one of our walk-in centers in Boston or Worcester. Your payment must be received by January 10, 2014. You will not be enrolled in your health plan until you pay the first month’s premium. Once you make your [...]

The Massachusetts Health Connector and MassHealth have created a number of alternative pathways to coverage in recent weeks to ensure that everyone who needs coverage on January 1, 2014, has it. This includes current Health Connector members and those who are seeking coverage from the Health Connector for the first time. Which types of coverage will be extended until March 31, 2014? What happens for people who applied for subsidized coverage for the first time? What happens for people who applied for unsubsidized coverage? What is the best way to apply for coverage? Which types of coverage will be extended until March 31, 2014? The following programs will provide extended benefits through March 31, 2014, which will give members until March 24 to re-apply for new coverage through MAhealthconnector.org: Commonwealth Care—Benefits will be extended for current members who are not transferring to MassHealth. Commonwealth Care members should have already gotten information about this extension in the mail. (If you are transferring to MassHealth coverage, you should have gotten a letter in the mail letting you know about your new benefits, which start January 1, 2014). Medical Security Program (MSP)– MSP members will be getting more information about this extension in the mail in the next week or two. If you currently get Direct Coverage through the Medical Security Program, your coverage is being extended by the Health Connector through March 31, 2014. You do not need to take any action at this time in order to keep your coverage.  If you have questions [...]