General Information - Massachusetts Health Connector

When can I apply for coverage?

In general, an open enrollment period is the time of year when people applying for health insurance can enroll or change a plan for any reason. The next Open Enrollment for Massachusetts begins November 1, 2025. If you qualify for help paying for coverage through programs like MassHealth or a ConnectorCare plan, or experience a qualifying life event, you may enroll at any time during the year. If you do not qualify for help paying for coverage, there are certain qualifying events that allow you to enroll in coverage at other times during the year. Qualifying events include (but are not limited to): adding a dependent through birth or marriage, moving to a new permanent address in Massachusetts, becoming a citizen, national, or lawfully present individual, or getting a waiver from the Office of Patient Protection. For more information on qualifying events, go to our Closed Enrollment information page.

Who can shop as a business, and who needs to shop as an individual or family through the Health Connector?

The rules around shopping as a small business through the Health Connector have changed. If you are the owner of a business that has no eligible employees other than your tax dependents, you will need to shop as an individual or family, instead of as a small business. However, most of the health plans available to small businesses are the same as the health plans offered to individuals through the Health Connector. And, you may be able to qualify for help paying for your coverage through programs that are available only for individuals and families.

Do I have to buy health insurance?

Under both Massachusetts and national health reform laws, most people must have health insurance if it’s affordable to them. There can be penalties for not being insured.Find out more about the Massachusetts Individual Mandate →

Are there different ways to get help paying for health insurance?

Yes. When you apply, you will be able to find out which programs you can qualify for. The three main ways to get help paying for coverage are through MassHealth (Massachusetts’ Medicaid program), ConnectorCare health plans, and tax credits that lower your monthly insurance premium.All applications for help paying for coverage can be done through the online application, or by filling out a paper application that is used by both the Health Connector and MassHealth.

Can I get help paying for my health insurance if I buy a plan outside the Health Connector?

No. You can’t qualify for help paying for a health insurance plan with an Advance Premium Tax Credit if you bought it outside of the Health Connector, such as directly with a carrier.

When is Open Enrollment and when do Health Connector plans start?

The 2026 Open Enrollment period ended January 23, 2026. The 2027 Open Enrollment starts November 1, 2026. In general, Open Enrollment is the only time of year when you can purchase or change insurance plans for any reason. However, you may be allowed to enroll at any time of year if you experience certain life events, such as losing your current insurance. If you qualify for MassHealth, or for a ConnectorCare plan, or want to purchase a standalone dental plan, you may enroll at any time during the year. Find out more now → When you enroll in a health or dental plan by the enrollment deadline - which is the 23rd day of each month - then the earliest plan start date is the first day of the following month. For example, if you complete enrollment by September 23, then your coverage start date will be October 1.

How can I get help in my language?

Español (Spanish) Para asistencia en español, por favor llame al 1-877-623-6765. Un representante de servicio al cliente será capaz de explicar sus opciones, responder a sus preguntas y ayudarle a aplicar para el seguro de salud. 中国的 (Chinese - Simplified) 对于在中国的协助，请致电1-877-623-6765。客户服务代表将能够解释你的选择，回答您的问题，并协助您申请健康保险。中國的 (Chinese - Traditional) 對於在中國的協助，請致電1-877-623-6765。客戶服務代表將能夠解釋你的選擇，回答您的問題，並協助您申請健康保險。 Dayiti Kreyòl (Haitian Creole) Pou èd nan Kreyòl Ayisyen, tanpri rele 1-877-623-6765. Yon reprezantan sèvis kliyan yo pral kapab eksplike opsyon ou, reponn kesyon ou yo epi ede w aplike pou asirans sante. Khmer សម្រាប់ជំនួយជាភាសាខ្មែរសូមទូរស័ព្ទ 1-877-623-6765 ។ តំណាងផ្នែកសេវាអតិថិជននឹងអាចពន្យល់ពីជម្រើសរបស់អ្នកឆ្លើយសំណួររបស់អ្នកនិងជួយអ្នកឱ្យអនុវត្តចំពោះការធានារ៉ាប់រងសុខភាព។ ສປປລາວ (Lao) ສໍາລັບການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອໃນສປປລາວ, ກະລຸນາໂທຫາ 1-877-623-6765. ເປັນຜູ້ຕາງຫນ້າການບໍລິການລູກຄ້າຈະສາມາດອະທິບາຍທາງເລືອກຂອງທ່ານ, ຕອບຄໍາຖາມຂອງທ່ານແລະການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອທີ່ທ່ານຮ້ອງຂໍສໍາລັບການປະກັນໄພສຸຂະພາບ. Português (Portuguese) Para obter assistência em Português, por favor ligue para 1-877-623-6765. Um representante de atendimento ao cliente será capaz de explicar as suas opções, responder suas perguntas e ajudá-lo a aplicar para o seguro de saúde. русский (Russian) Для получения помощи на русском языке, пожалуйста, позвоните 1-877-623-6765. Представитель службы поддержки клиентов смогут объяснить свои варианты, ответить на ваши вопросы и помочь вам подать заявление на медицинское страхование. Việt (Vietnamese) Để được hỗ trợ bằng tiếng Việt, xin gọi 1-877-623-6765. Một đại diện dịch vụ khách hàng sẽ có thể giải thích lựa chọn của bạn, trả lời câu hỏi của bạn và giúp bạn nộp đơn xin bảo hiểm y tế.

What is the Massachusetts Health Connector?

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts created the Massachusetts Health Connector to help residents and employers find the right health plan. The Health Connector offers health and dental insurance plans from the state’s leading insurers – and provides tools that make it easier to compare plans. It’s a great way to find the right plan for you, your family, or your small business. All of the plans offered by the Health Connector have been awarded the state’s Seal of Approval, so you can be sure the plan you choose meets both state and national coverage standards.

How do I find out if my small business could be eligible for the small business tax credits created by national health reform?

The Affordable Care Act established new tax credits for certain small employers to make it more affordable to cover their employees. Eligible employers can achieve even greater savings by using these tax credits in tandem with participating in the Health Connector’s new ConnectWell program, which qualifies them for up to an additional 15 percent premium rebate. Employers can get up to a 50 percent federal tax credit when they buy health insurance through the Health Connector, if they: have 25 or fewer full-time employees, and pay average annual wages below $50,000, and pay at least half of the premiums for employee health insurance. The Health Connector also exclusively offers ConnectWell, a free program offered to eligible employers enrolled in a small business group health plan through the Health Connector. Employers who are not the sole owner and employee of a company and who have fewer than 25 employees total are eligible for the program. Eligible employers who participate may qualify for a ConnectWell rebate of up to 15 percent on their group’s health insurance premium contribution for coverage purchased through the Health Connector.

How can an Enrollment Assister help me?

Enrollment Assisters, like Navigators and Certified Application Counselors (CACs), can help you understand new coverage options available as a result of national health care reform and find the most affordable coverage that meets your needs. These trained and certified individuals can help you from application through enrollment into new health insurance plans and answer your questions about your eligibility, application, payments, plan details, and health care reform rules and requirements. To find an Enrollment Assister organization near you, go to the online search tool. Call to make an appointment.

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