Open Enrollment

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! 

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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.

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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!

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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 [...]

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Massachusetts Health Connector Open Enrollment Continues through January 23, Offering High-Quality and Affordable Coverage to Residents

BOSTON – December 9, 2019 – Open Enrollment for health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector continues through January 23, 2020, providing residents time to find affordable coverage that delivers a wide range of benefits to make it easier and less costly to get health care. Uninsured residents have until December 23 to apply, pick a plan and make a payment in order to have coverage starting January 1, and they have until January 23 to apply for coverage starting February 1. In contrast, Open Enrollment in other states served through the federal marketplace ends as early as December 15. “As a state-based exchange, we extend our Open Enrollment deadline to provide our residents with ample time to apply and enroll in high-quality coverage,” said Louis Gutierrez, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. “Massachusetts leads the nation with 97 percent of residents insured, but now is the time for people without coverage to sign up as we work to get to 100 percent and ensure everyone has access to quality health care.” The Health Connector provides some of the lowest premiums of any exchange in the country for people who need coverage, with a broad range of plans to help members find the best fit for their health care needs. Low-income residents have access to affordable coverage through the ConnectorCare program, with subsidized premiums, low co-pays and no deductibles. In the first five weeks of Open Enrollment, 288,000 people were enrolled in new or continued health coverage for 2020. By [...]

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Massachusetts Health Connector completes successful Open Enrollment with stable membership, providing affordable, quality coverage to 250,000 members

BOSTON – February 8, 2018 – The Massachusetts Health Connector finished Open Enrollment on Jan. 23 with stable membership, despite premium increases that occurred as a result of federal policy changes just weeks before the start of Open Enrollment. As of Feb. 1, the Health Connector had 252,786 people in health coverage for February enrollments, compared to 246,831 as of Feb. 1 last year. In October, less than a month before the start of Open Enrollment, the Health Connector and the Division of Insurance allowed carriers to use increased premiums for some Silver tier plans sold through the Health Connector, in order to maintain market stability in the face of the federal government’s decision to stop making cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments to carriers. That decision meant that many unsubsidized Health Connector members faced premium increases averaging 26 percent higher than 2017.  The Health Connector encouraged shopping for less expensive plans on the exchange, and also assisted members who chose to leave the exchange for similar, lower-cost plans through their carrier. “Our goal every Open Enrollment is to expand access to affordable coverage to people who do not have health insurance, and to ensure that our current members are able to maintain quality coverage that best suits their needs,” said Louis Gutierrez, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. We were able to not only help thousands of people get new health insurance through the Health Connector, but also help tens of thousands of others maintain coverage, even if it [...]

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Reminder: Massachusetts Health Connector Deadline for January 2018 Coverage is Dec. 23

BOSTON – December 11, 2017 – Massachusetts residents who want health insurance have until Dec. 23 to sign up for coverage through the Massachusetts Health Connector, which holds Open Enrollment longer than the federal government. While the deadline for states that use the federal Healthcare.gov portal is Friday, Dec. 15, since Massachusetts is a state-based exchange, the Health Connector uses different deadlines. For people who want to start the new year with health insurance or change their plan for 2018, the deadline to select and pay for the plan is Saturday, Dec. 23. Residents seeking 2018 coverage can go to MAhealthconnector.org to apply and pick a plan. “December 23 is our most important deadline of the year, as new applicants get into coverage and our current members review their plan status for 2018, and it’s important that people know that they have more time in Massachusetts beyond the federal deadline,” said Louis Gutierrez, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. “We understand how important it is to have health insurance – for people to be able to go to the doctor and have it cost them less to be healthy – and we want to extend to them every opportunity to sign up.” Throughout Open Enrollment, the Health Connector is providing full outreach and support services to Massachusetts residents as it has in past years. This includes an Open Enrollment period that runs through Jan. 23, 2018 (for coverage starting in February 2018), fully supporting 16 Navigator organizations throughout [...]

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Massachusetts Health Connector Members and New Applicants Take Early Action at Start of 2018 Open Enrollment

BOSTON – November 20, 2017 – With a stable system and user process complemented by a proactive outreach and education effort, the Massachusetts Health Connector has seen members and new applicants more active in the first two weeks of Open Enrollment compared to last year. Through Nov. 15, plans selected and enrollments are more than 40 percent higher than last year at the same time, new program determinations for Health Connector are up nearly 70 percent, and plans selected and enrollments by new members are up more than 15 percent. “It is encouraging to see people hearing our message to shop for new coverage, and taking early advantage of Open Enrollment and finding the plan that best fits their needs for the new year,” said Louis Gutierrez, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. “We hope all of our current members take time to review their coverage for next year, and people who don’t currently have health insurance sign up so they have the health and financial security that comes with having coverage next year.” In the first 15 days of Open Enrollment, 26,343 people selected a plan or enrolled by paying their first premium for 2018, compared to 18,695 in the first 15 days of last year’s Open Enrollment. Of those plan selections and enrollments, 7,219 people are getting new coverage through the Health Connector, compared to 6,200 last year. So far in the first 15 days of Open Enrollment, 15,713 new people were determined eligible for Health [...]

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The deadline to enroll in plans that start March 1, 2015 is extended to February 23

Due to recent severe weather, the deadline to apply, shop, and pay your first premium for March 1, 2015 coverage has been extended to February 23. The federal Open Enrollment period ends Sunday, February 15, 2015. However, because the recent series of snowstorms caused some closures in our call and walk-in centers and longer wait times for consumers looking for help, the Baker-Polito Administration, along with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has approved an extension for Massachusetts residents. Related: Read the February 13, 2015 Press Release   What does this mean for you? If you have not yet completed your application or selected a plan, this means that you have an extra week to apply, pick a plan, and make a payment to complete your enrollment in a plan that starts March 1, 2015. If you or your family members are eligible for MassHealth, your coverage will start right away.  The payment deadline for coverage that starts March 1 has not changed. Applicants still must also make their first premium payment no later than Feb. 23, 2015 to complete their enrollment in a plan that starts March 1. Because members who apply and pick a plan by the 23rd will not receive their first bill by the payment due date, you can find out how to make a payment without a bill in-hand on our “How to Pay” page. You have the option to Pay online, In-person, or By mail.   If you need help applying [...]

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Open Enrollment ends February 15! Apply now for new health coverage

Important Update: Due to recent severe weather, the deadline to apply, shop, and pay your first premium for March 1, 2015 coverage has been extended to February 23. Find out what this means for you → Open Enrollment ends February 15, 2015. If you have not started your application, don't delay! If you qualify for insurance  through the Health Connector, you will need to apply, shop for plans, and check out by February 15 for coverage that starts March 1. Your first premium payment is due by February 23 to complete enrollment. If you qualify for MassHealth your coverage starts right away. Don’t wait to start your application, especially if you think you will need help! Our call center and in-person Customer Service Representatives expect to be very busy as the February 15 deadline approaches. Apply and shop now to avoid any delays in getting your new health insurance. You can apply for coverage through MassHealth or the Health Connector (first visit the the "Getting Started Guide".) There are several ways to get help: Online Help Read our Getting Started Guide for information about applying and enrolling in a plan including step-by-step instructions. In-Person with an Enrollment Assister For free, in-person help, you make an appointment with a Navigator or Certified Application Counselor. These are people who have been trained to answer questions and help with applications. Click here to find Navigators and Certified Application Counselors nearby. In-Person at a Health Connector or MassHealth Walk-In Center You can [...]

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