Special Enrollment Period

A Special Enrollment Period is a time outside of the open enrollment period that you and your family have a right to sign up for health coverage through the Health Connector. You may qualify for a special enrollment period 60 days following certain qualifying events that involve a change in family status (for example, marriage or birth of a child) or loss of other health coverage.

Qualifying Events

• Getting married.
• Change in household dependents. Birth or adoption of a child, receiving a child into foster care, placing a child for adoption or foster care, or court-ordered care of a child.
  During Closed Enrollment, it is important to add newborns, spouses, adoptees, and foster children to your application within 30 days from when they become part of your household. It is best to add newborns within 10 days of birth to make sure the baby’s coverage takes effect right away. If you do not report on time, your family member may have a gap in coverage or may need to wait until the next Open Enrollment to get coverage.
• Qualifying for ConnectorCare, after not applying or qualifying for it in the past
• Losing minimum essential coverage. You may qualify for a special enrollment period if you lose health coverage for a reason other than not paying premiums or because of fraud. This includes:
  • loss of MassHealth coverage.
  • loss of your insurance from a job.
  • your COBRA coverage ending. Note: Not paying your COBRA premium is not considered loss of coverage.
  • no longer living or working in your health insurance carrier’s service area.
  • no longer qualifying for student health coverage.
  • the end of your dependent status on someone else’s plan.
  • turning 26 years old and no longer qualifying as a dependent in a family plan.
  • turning 19 years old and no longer qualifying for a child-only plan.
  • primary subscriber of your health insurance plan becomes eligible for Medicare.
  • having a claim that would meet or exceed a lifetime limit on all benefits;
  • death of a primary subscriber
• Change in residency, such as a permanent move to Massachusetts, gains access to new plans as a result of a permanent move within the state, or release from jail or prison.
• Is an American Indian or Alaska Native, as defined by section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Such an individual may enroll in a health or dental plan or change from one plan to another once a month even if the open enrollment period is over.
• Becomes a lawfully present individual but you were not lawfully present in the U.S. before.
• Was mistakenly enrolled or not enrolled in a Health Connector health or dental plan due to an error, misrepresentation, or inaction on the part of the Health Connector or the Department of Health and Human Services, or its instrumentalities, as determined by the Health Connector.
• Other exceptional circumstances

No qualifying life event? Apply for a waiver through the Massachusetts Office of Patient Protection. Find out how to apply now →

If you are already enrolled in coverage through the Health Connector:

• Household income change resulting in you being eligible or ineligible for help paying for your insurance. For example, if you are already enrolled in coverage and your income goes down, you may be able to get extra help, like an Advance Premium Tax Credit.
• Change in ConnectorCare plan types that you qualify for.

You have 60 days from the date when your qualifying life event happens to enroll in coverage or change plans through the Health Connector. For example, if you get married on November 18, 2023 you have until January 17, 2024 to

1. Let the Health Connector know;
2. Complete an application for coverage; and
3. Shop and choose a new health plan.

If 60 days pass and you do not enroll in health coverage—and do not have another qualifying life event—you would have to wait until the next open enrollment period to enroll.

You do not need to have a qualifying life event to enroll in MassHealth or if you are newly eligible for ConnectorCare plans. To find out if you are eligible for MassHealth or ConnectorCare, you can complete an online application.

• You can apply online. Start at the “Getting Started Guide” →
• By mail by completing a paper application. Go to the “Forms” section of the site to download one now.
• By phone by calling the MassHealth or Health Connector Customer Service Center:
  • MassHealth Customer Service
    1-800-841-2900, or TTY 1-800-497-4648 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled.
    Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Health Connector Customer Service
    1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765), or TTY 1-877-623-7773 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled.
    See our Open Enrollment hours →

• In-person by making an appointment with an Enrollment Assister near your home. Search for one in your area now →
• In-person at a MassHealth Enrollment Center or Health Connector Walk-in Center

MassHealth Enrollment Centers:

• Need assistance? You can schedule a video or phone appointment online with a MassHealth representative using the MassHealth Appointment Scheduling Tool.

Health Connector walk-in centers (no appointment needed):

• Boston: 133 Portland Street, 1st Floor, Boston
• Springfield: 88 Industry Avenue, Springfield
• Worcester: 146 Main Street, Suite 201/202, Worcester

Get more contact information and business hours