Applying for Coverage

Our walk-in centers have re-opened

Have you heard? Our walk-in centers in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester have re-opened! Now our members and applicants can receive in-person assistance as Open Enrollment continues through January 23, 2022 and beyond for ongoing assistance and enrollment needs. Visitors to our newly reopened walk-in centers must adhere to face covering, social distancing, and capacity requirements to maintain health and safety to visitors and staff. Boston Walk-in Center is located at 133 Portland Street, Boston, MA 02114 Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Springfield Walk-in Center is located at 88 Industrial Avenue, Suite D, Springfield, MA 01104 Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Worcester Walk-in Center is located at 146 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you need health insurance, or are already a Health Connector members and you need to update your account or pick a new plan for 2022, please visit www.MAhealthconnector.org to apply and enroll in a plan. If you need assistance, you can visit a walk-in center, find a local Navigator or Certified Enrollment Counselor through the website, or call the Health Connector at 1-877-MA-ENROLL (TTY 1-877- 623-7773). Let’s get covered together. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @HealthConnector to countdown Open Enrollment!

Health Literacy Month

October is Health Literacy Month! Now is the time to promote the importance of making health information understandable. Health literacy is "the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others." (Source) Understanding your health insurance is an essential part of this. At the Health Connector, we strive to make health information and coverage accessible for people throughout Massachusetts. To observe Health Literacy Month, find and share resources to help you understand the importance of understandable health information. Learn more about Health Literacy Month Learn more about health insurance terms Learn more about the health initiatives through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Learn more about how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 Learn more about what to know about savings and shopping for health plans in our Resource Download Center Health Literacy is critical all year-round, but it is vital during Open Enrollment, which starts November 1, 2021, and ends January 23, 2022. If you need health insurance or want to change your plan, learn your options through the Health Connector. If you aren't covered yet, this can be your first step to becoming more health literate. So let's stay healthy and covered together! Follow us on social media to countdown Open Enrollment.

The right place for the right plan

If you need health insurance, the Health Connector is the right place for the right plan. If you recently lost coverage through a job or other source—or experiences other qualifying life events—you can apply for coverage any time of the year. Most people who apply for coverage through the Health Connector are eligible for savings on monthly insurance premiums. Get an estimate now and see how much you could save through the Health Connector. The Health Connector offers plans from the state’s leading insurers to individuals, families, and small businesses. Shopping for health insurance plans through the Health Connector is easy and convenient. It’s easy to compare different plans and find out what the plans will cost and what savings are available. All of the health plans offered through the Health Connector provide comprehensive benefits, including prescription drugs and visits to the doctor or hospital. After applying for coverage and shop for plans, our online tools can help you narrow your choices based on out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays and deductibles. You can then choose up to three health or dental plans to compare side-by-side and review the different provider networks within plans. This will help you find the plan that is right for you and your family. Let’s get covered together. Open Enrollment Period begins November 1, 2021, and ends January 23, 2022. Follow us on social media @HealthConnector to countdown Open Enrollment!

What is the Massachusetts Health Connector?

What is the Massachusetts Health Connector? The Health Connector is a state-based health insurance Marketplace that makes shopping for affordable health and dental coverage easier for Massachusetts individuals, families, and small businesses. You can find plans from the leading health and dental insurers that have been awarded the state's Seal of Approval. This means you can be sure the plan you choose meets both state and national coverage standards. If you need health insurance, the Health Connector is the right place for the right plan We are dedicated to ensuring people who apply for coverage and shop for plans on the website have the best experience possible. Open Enrollment is the time where individuals and families can enroll for health coverage or change their current plan for any reason. If you need health insurance outside of Open Enrollment—called the Special Enrollment Period—you may qualify to enroll in coverage at any time of the year if you've experienced a qualifying life event or are eligible for certain programs like ConnectorCare or coverage through MassHealth. If you don't qualify to enroll during the Special Enrollment Period, you may have to wait until Open Enrollment to enroll in coverage. The next Open Enrollment period is November 1, 2021 through January 23, 2022. Let's get covered together The Health Connector partners with a set of community organizations through a grant program to serve as Navigator organizations that provide FREE community-based eligibility and enrollment assistance. Contact your nearest Navigator organization if you need help applying, understanding [...]

How do I answer questions about income?

Calculating your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) To help figure out your annual Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) income for 2023, we have provided the calculator below. Please note that the all sources of income you expect to receive in 2023 must be considered. For example, if you are a seasonal employee and expects to collect unemployment during certain months of the year, you should include the expected unemployment income in the total income. [ninja_forms id=34] How to answer questions about your current income The question "Does FIRST NAME LAST NAME have any income?" should be answered for the MONTH you are completing your application. If you—and any household members included on your application—has any current income (such as income from a job, self-employment, or other source), the answer should be "Yes". If you answer the question by selecting "No", click "Save and Continue" to move to the next page. Answer this question based on your current income. If you answer the question by selecting "Yes", the next question on the screen will ask what types of income you have. You can check all the boxes that apply and then click “Save and Continue” to move to the next page and answer questions about the type(s) of income you checked. Check all income types that apply to you. Income Frequency Take care to note that the income amount has the right frequency (how often you receive the income). The table below includes frequency choices and descriptions you will need [...]

Identity (ID) Proofing: What you need to know

Identity Proofing (or ID Proofing) is one of the first steps of the process to apply for health coverage through the Health Connector website. ID proofing is a requirement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and must be completed in order for you to submit an application through the Health Connector website. ID proofing is used to verify your identity and is done by asking you questions based on your personal and financial history. When you check credit report after ID Proofing, you may see an inquiry from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS uses credit reporting agencies like Experian to verify the information on your eligibility application. This is only an inquiry and does not affect your credit score. Your eligibility application and credit score will not be affected by the inquiries from Experian or CMS. To protect your personal information, you have to take a few steps to verify your identity before you can complete an application. First, you will provide information when you create your profile. This information will be used for the first step of ID proofing. Once your information is verified, the ID proofing process will ask you questions that only you would be likely to know the answers to, based on your financial accounts and personal information on your credit report. This process is meant to prevent an unauthorized person from creating an account and applying for health coverage in your name without your knowledge. You should [...]

What to do if you forgot your MA Login information or are locked out of your account

If you don't remember your login information, you can reset your username or password. If you forget your username or password, you can go to the account sign in page and click on the link “Forgot Username” or “Forgot Password” to get an email from MA Login that will include information and instructions to get back into your account. Please note that these emails will come from MA Login (noreply@login.mahix.org). If you do not get an email within a few minutes, check your email’s spam or junk email folder. If this happens, please add the email address noreply@login.mahix.org to your safe-senders list. Please note: The only required information for this form is your first name and your last name. I am locked out of my MA Login account. What should I do? First, follow the instructions above to reset your username or password. If you are not able to get back into your account by clicking the “Forgot username” or “Forgot Password” links (see above), you can call Health Connector customer service for help at 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765), or TTY 711 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled. When I try to sign in, I get a message that there is already an MA Login account If you get a message that there is already an account created with your login information, you may need to go through the “I forgot my account username and/or password” process as described above. If you continue to get this message, you [...]