individuals & families

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 [...]

Enrolled in COBRA and losing help paying? Apply for coverage through the Health Connector

Video Enrolled in COBRA and losing help paying? Apply through the Health Connector to see if savings are available for you. Niki Conte and Kayla Scire from the Massachusetts Health Connector are here to provide some information for people who are currently enrolled in COBRA but will be losing subsidies at the end of this month. People who chose to take COBRA have the option to enroll through the Health Connector when their subsidies end Losing help paying for COBRA is a qualifying event that lets you enroll outside of the Open Enrollment period. They will need to apply, choose their plan, and pay their first premium by the 23rd of the month for their coverage to start on October 1. Get covered now Enroll today by completing an application. Get started now. Or, call customer service at 1-877-MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765) or TTY: 711 for assistance. You can also make an appointment with a Certified Enrollment Assister. Find organizations near you → Additional Resources Resource download page (Shopping Guides, Guide to Subsidies, ConnectorCare Overview, Standardized QHPs) Health Connector Provider and Prescription search tool Enrollment Assistance search Customer service information

September 14, 2021 Webinar Recording: Health Insurance Options and Savings through the Health Connector

Video Download Presentation PDF Download Presentation American Rescue Plan & Health Connector Coverage The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 helps lower health insurance premiums for Health Connector members and provides new help paying for health insurance premiums for people who’ve never qualified before. Learn more and find frequently asked questions→ Questions & Answers Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is used to determine your eligibility for subsidies through the Health Connector. More information and a form to assist you in calculating your annual projected income can be found below. Questions in the application will guide you through the information that you need to supply. In general, we recommend that you read the tooltips in the application if you have questions. It’s also helpful to have a copy of your most recent tax return handy so that you can compare your income or account for deductions that you might also have for 2021. Get full details at https://www.mahealthconnector.org/how-do-i-answer-questions-about-income Estimating your income while on unemployment can be difficult as your employment status may change, and for that reason we encourage people to return to their application any time they have a change in circumstances, including a change in their income. When estimating your yearly/annual income, combine the income you earned in 2021 (or expect to earn in 2021) prior to becoming unemployed with your weekly unemployment benefit amount for the duration of the expected unemployed period (up to 39 [...]

August 10, 2021 Webinar Recording: Need health insurance? New savings are here through the Health Connector

Video Download Presentation PDF Download Presentation American Rescue Plan & Health Connector Coverage The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 helps lower health insurance premiums for Health Connector members and provides new help paying for health insurance premiums for people who’ve never qualified before. Learn more and find frequently asked questions→ Questions & Answers Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is used to determine your eligibility for subsidies through the Health Connector. More information and a form to assist you in calculating your annual projected income can be found below. Questions in the application will guide you through the information that you need to supply. In general, we recommend that you read the tooltips in the application if you have questions. It’s also helpful to have a copy of your most recent tax return handy so that you can compare your income or account for deductions that you might also have for 2021. Get full details at https://www.mahealthconnector.org/how-do-i-answer-questions-about-income Estimating your income while on unemployment can be difficult as your employment status may change, and for that reason we encourage people to return to their application any time they have a change in circumstances, including a change in their income. When estimating your yearly/annual income, combine the income you earned in 2020 (or expect to earn in 2021) prior to becoming unemployed with your weekly unemployment benefit amount for the duration of the expected unemployed period (up to 39 [...]

July 13, 2021 Webinar Recording: Need health insurance? New savings are here through the Health Connector

Video Download Presentation PDF Download Presentation American Rescue Plan & Health Connector Coverage The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 helps lower health insurance premiums for Health Connector members and provides new help paying for health insurance premiums for people who’ve never qualified before. Learn more and find frequently asked questions→ Questions & Answers Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is used to determine your eligibility for subsidies through the Health Connector. More information and a form to assist you in calculating your annual projected income can be found below. Questions in the application will guide you through the information that you need to supply. In general, we recommend that you read the tooltips in the application if you have questions. It’s also helpful to have a copy of your most recent tax return handy so that you can compare your income or account for deductions that you might also have for 2021. Get full details at https://www.mahealthconnector.org/how-do-i-answer-questions-about-income Estimating your income while on unemployment can be difficult as your employment status may change, and for that reason we encourage people to return to their application any time they have a change in circumstances, including a change in their income. When estimating your yearly/annual income, combine the income you earned in 2020 (or expect to earn in 2021) prior to becoming unemployed with your weekly unemployment benefit amount for the duration of the expected unemployed period (up to 39 [...]

How the American Rescue Plan helps Massachusetts residents on unemployment save on health insurance

Video The American Rescue Plan delivers new and expanded subsidies to hundreds of thousands of people in Massachusetts through the Health Connector to help lower the cost of their health insurance. Now, people who were eligible for unemployment benefits at least one week in 2021 may qualify for a low- or $0 premium plan with the Health Connector through the end of 2021. Learn more and see frequent asked questions → Additional Resources Resource download page (Shopping Guides, Guide to Subsidies, ConnectorCare Overview, Standardized QHPs) Health Connector Provider and Prescription search tool Enrollment Assistance search Customer service information

June 15, 2021 Webinar Recording: Need health insurance? New savings are here through the Health Connector

Video Download Presentation PDF Download Presentation American Rescue Plan & Health Connector Coverage The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 helps lower health insurance premiums for Health Connector members and provides new help paying for health insurance premiums for people who’ve never qualified before. Learn more and find frequently asked questions→ Questions & Answers Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is used to determine your eligibility for subsidies through the Health Connector. More information and a form to assist you in calculating your annual projected income can be found below. Questions in the application will guide you through the information that you need to supply. In general, we recommend that you read the tooltips in the application if you have questions. It’s also helpful to have a copy of your most recent tax return handy so that you can compare your income or account for deductions that you might also have for 2021. Get full details at https://www.mahealthconnector.org/how-do-i-answer-questions-about-income Estimating your income while on unemployment can be difficult as your employment status may change, and for that reason we encourage people to return to their application any time they have a change in circumstances, including a change in their income. When estimating your yearly/annual income, combine the income you earned in 2020 (or expect to earn in 2021) prior to becoming unemployed with your weekly unemployment benefit amount for the duration of the expected unemployed period (up to 39 [...]

May 11, 2021 Webinar Recording: Need health insurance? New savings are here through the Health Connector

Video Download Presentation PDF Download Presentation American Rescue Plan & Health Connector Coverage The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 helps lower health insurance premiums for Health Connector members and provides new help paying for health insurance premiums for people who’ve never qualified before. Learn more and find frequently asked questions→ Questions & Answers Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is used to determine your eligibility for subsidies through the Health Connector. More information and a form to assist you in calculating your annual projected income can be found below. Questions in the application will guide you through the information that you need to supply. In general, we recommend that you read the tooltips in the application if you have questions. It’s also helpful to have a copy of your most recent tax return handy so that you can compare your income or account for deductions that you might also have for 2021. Get full details at https://www.mahealthconnector.org/how-do-i-answer-questions-about-income Estimating your income while on unemployment can be difficult as your employment status may change, and for that reason we encourage people to return to their application any time they have a change in circumstances, including a change in their income. When estimating your yearly/annual income, combine the income you earned in 2020 (or expect to earn in 2021) prior to becoming unemployed with your weekly unemployment benefit amount for the duration of the expected unemployed period (up to 39 [...]