If you are over age 30 and have applied for and were 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 →

Effective November 1, 2025

As of November 1, 2025, individuals who are ineligible for advance premium tax credits (APTC) or cost-sharing reductions (CSR) due to their projected annual income will be eligible for a hardship waiver. Consumers with a projected annual income below 100 percent or above 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) will be eligible for a hardship exemption and can enroll in Catastrophic coverage. To receive the hardship waiver, Massachusetts residents must complete the hardship exemption form by selecting “Hardship 14 – You experienced another hardship” from the available options in Section 2 of the form.

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 Catastrophic plan

Only the following people are eligible:

If you’re eligible to buy a Catastrophic plan, you’ll see them displayed when you compare plans on the Health Connector website.

How much Catastrophic plans cost

  • • Monthly premiums are usually lower, but may not be significantly different than a Bronze plan. You can’t use an Advance Premium Tax Credit to lower your premium cost for a catastrophic plan. A Bronze or Silver plan is likely to be a better value. Be sure to compare.
  • Deductibles—the amount you have to pay yourself for most services before the plan starts to pay anything—are very high. For 2026, the deductibles for all Catastrophic plans are $10,600 for an individual or $21,200 for a family. After you spend that much, your insurance company pays for all covered services, with no co-payment or co-insurance.

What Catastrophic plans cover

  • Catastrophic plans cover the same essential health benefits as other Health Connector plans.
  • Like other plans, Catastrophic plans cover certain preventive services at no cost.
  • They also cover at least 3 primary care visits per year before you’ve met your deductible.