Hardship exemption and how to apply

If you are over age 30 and have applied for and was approved for a federal hardship exemption, you may be able to shop for a Catastrophic plan. For information about the federal hardship exemption, including how to apply, go to the hardship exemption page on HealthCare.gov → Were you already approved for a federal hardship exemption? If you have a federal hardship exemption and want to shop for a Catastrophic health insurance plan through the Health Connector, please call Health Connector customer service at 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765), or TTY 711 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled. Health plans that meet all of the requirements applicable to other Health Connector plans but that don't cover any benefits other than 3 primary care visits per year before the plan's deductible is met. The premium amount you pay each month for health care is generally lower than for other health plans, but the out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance are generally higher. To qualify for a Catastrophic plan, you must be under 30 years old OR get a "hardship exemption" because the Marketplace determined that you’re unable to afford health coverage. Catastrophic health plans: For people under 30 or with certain exemptions Catastrophic health insurance plans have low monthly premiums and very high deductibles. They may be an affordable way to protect yourself from worst-case scenarios, like getting seriously sick or injured. But you pay most routine medical expenses yourself. Who can buy a [...]