Stay Informed About Federal Changes
Page last updated: June 10, 2026
The federal government has made changes to who qualifies for help paying for health insurance that could affect your coverage and costs. Some of these changes may have impacted your health coverage for 2026. There are more changes coming for plan year 2027. This page will continue to be updated to include federal policy changes already in place and those that are coming soon.
We know these changes may be confusing, and the Health Connector is here to help. Our goal is to explain how these federal changes might impact you and guide you in making the best choices for you and your family.
Check this page often as we will provide updates and resources for members and partners.
In 2026, eligibility for federal and state help paying for health coverage changed. You may qualify for help paying for coverage through the Health Connector if your expected annual household income falls into these ranges:
| Household size | If your income is at or above | If your income is at or below |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,650 | $62,600 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $84,600 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $106,600 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $128,600 |
Contents
Federal Policy Changes Impacting 2027 Coverage
Shortened Open Enrollment Period
Effective Date: Open Enrollment 2027 (fall 2026)
The Health Connector’s annual Open Enrollment period to apply for, enroll, and pay for January 2027 coverage will run from October 23, 2026, to December 23, 2026.
What’s Happening?
The Massachusetts Health Connector will have a shorter Open Enrollment Period this year. Open Enrollment is the time when people can shop for health and dental plans and sign up for coverage. It is also the time when current members can review their plans and make changes for the new year.
- Due to federal law changes, the Health Connector must shorten its annual open enrollment period. Usually, Open Enrollment runs from November 1 through January 23.
- But for 2027 health and dental plans, Open Enrollment will run from October 23 through December 23, 2026. This change is because of federal updates to the Affordable Care Act.
What This Means for Current Members:
If you already have coverage through the Health Connector, you may need to take action earlier than usual. Because the enrollment window is shorter, you will have less time to:
- Review your current plan
- Compare other plan options
- Update your income, address, or household information
- Choose a new plan if your needs have changed
If you wait too long, you may miss your chance to make changes before the deadline.
What This Means for People Applying for the First Time:
If you plan to enroll in coverage for the first time, it is important to start early. A shorter Open Enrollment period means you will need to:
- Learn about your plan options sooner
- Gather any needed documents earlier
- Compare health and dental plans
- Enroll before the December 23, 2026, deadline
Starting early can help give you more time to understand your options and choose the plan that works best for you.
Take Action
If you do not take action between October 23 and December 23, 2026, you may need to wait until the next Open Enrollment period unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. That is why it is important to plan ahead.
Steps you can take now
- Mark the new dates on your calendar now:
-
- Open Enrollment starts: October 23, 2026
- Open Enrollment ends: December 23, 2026
- Update your information. For example, if you moved, update your address. If you had a change in income, report those changes
- Check for important updates from the Health Connector by mail, email, or both
- Review your current coverage and think about your needs for 2027
- Make sure your household and income information is up to date whenever you experience a change that may impact your coverage options
- Shop and enroll as early as you can during Open Enrollment this fall
We are here to help
The Health Connector wants members and people applying for the first time to have the time and support they need to get covered. By planning ahead and acting early, you can be ready when Open Enrollment begins and avoid missing your chance to enroll in 2027 coverage this fall.
Federal Changes to Noncitizen Eligibility for Federal Advance Premium Tax Credits and ConnectorCare
Effective Date: January 1, 2027
What’s Happening?
Due to changes in federal law, in 2027, certain noncitizens will no longer qualify for Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) or ConnectorCare.
Currently, to qualify to purchase a health or dental plan through the Health Connector and to qualify for APTC or ConnectorCare, a noncitizen needs to be lawfully present.
However, starting January 1, 2027, these rules will change. A person who is lawfully present will still qualify to purchase a health or dental plan at full cost. However, to be eligible for help paying for health coverage (i.e., APTC or ConnectorCare), a noncitizen must have one of the following statuses:
- Lawful permanent resident (LPR), also known as a green card holder
- Cuban and Haitian Entrant (CHE)
- Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant, including people from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau living in the U.S. under a special agreement
Similar changes to noncitizen eligibility are impacting MassHealth coverage. Get more information on federal changes impacting MassHealth
What This Means for Members and People Applying for the First Time:
Due to these federal law changes, the Health Connector estimates that about 35,000 current enrollees may no longer qualify for help paying for coverage.
If you are lawfully present with one of the statuses listed here, you will still qualify to purchase a health or dental plan.
However, to qualify for help paying for your coverage, including receiving federal APTC and ConnectorCare, you must have one of the following statuses:
- Lawful permanent resident (LPR), also known as a green card holder
- Cuban and Haitian Entrant (CHE)
- Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant, including people from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau living in the U.S. under a special agreement
In the months ahead, the Health Connector will update supporting resources to reflect these changes and help members and applicants understand what they need to do to verify their immigration status for 2027 coverage.
Take Action
- Check your mail and email for information from the Health Connector about your 2027 coverage. You should receive your preliminary eligibility for 2027 coverage based on these new rules in August.
- In the meantime, figure out if you think you may qualify as a lawful permanent resident (LPR), a Cuban Haitian Entrant (CHE), or a Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant. If you do have one of these statuses, gather any documents that show you have these statuses.
Note: Some people don’t know that they qualify as a Cuban and Haitian Entrant. If you are a Cuban Haitian Entrant, you should select that status in the application, as that will provide you with the richest benefit.
“Cuban Haitian Entrant” or CHE is a public benefits eligibility category, not an immigration status. To be a CHE, you need to be:
- a Haitian or Cuban national (for example: a citizen of Haiti or Cuba), or a child born to at least one Haitian parent, whether in Haiti or elsewhere in the world, and either have
- a pending asylum application;
- have been paroled into the United States at any time in the past, even if the parole status has expired;
- be in removal proceedings currently;
- or be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) who obtained this status under one of the following laws: The Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA); The Nicaragua Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA); or The Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA).
Federal Policy Changes Impacting 2026 Coverage
New Federal Policies Impacting Health Connector Enrollees
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that it intends to share data with the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement activities. The Health Connector is required to send enrollee information to the Department of Health and Human Services as part of its work providing health insurance and federal premium tax credits to members.
Under this new policy, the Department of Health and Human Services may share demographic and contact information concerning Health Connector enrollees with the Department of Homeland Security. Both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security have noted that they may expand the types of information that will be made available and requested, respectively, between their agencies. The Health Connector will continue to work, in partnership with the Attorney General’s office, to protect the privacy of our members.
Federal Changes to Eligibility for Financial Help Impacting ConnectorCare Plan Type 1 Members
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
What’s Happened?
- Between 2014 and 2025, Massachusetts residents who were not eligible for Medicaid due to their immigration status could qualify for federal Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTC) and ConnectorCare if their income is below 100 percent of the FPL.
- Due to federal law changes, subsidized health plans will no longer be available for people with incomes below the federal poverty level.
What This Means for Members and Applicants:
- ConnectorCare Plan Type 1 is no longer offered.
- Individuals who are not eligible for MassHealth due to their immigration status and have income below 100 percent of the federal poverty level will only qualify for a health plan without financial help.
- You will lose help paying for premiums, your co-pays will increase, and plans will include a deductible.
Take Action
If your circumstances change, be sure to review your account and keep your information up to date throughout the year.
- Review your account and update your application. A change in household size, income, or immigration status may change the eligibility result.
- You may be able to get help paying for your coverage if your information has changed. For example, if you expect your 2026 income to be at least $15,650 for an individual or at least $32,150 for a family of four, you should update your information. Changes to household size or immigration status could also impact your eligibility. The Health Connector will take your most up-to-date information and see if you qualify for Health Connector programs, MassHealth programs, or the Health Safety Net (HSN).
Learn more about MassHealth Limited and Health Safety Net (HSN) →
Expiration of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs)
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
What’s Happened?
- Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), which have helped lower monthly health insurance costs for many people since 2021, expire December 31, 2025.
What This Means for Members and Applicants:
- Many people will still qualify for financial help, but the amount will be smaller.
- If your household income is above 400 percent FPL, you will no longer qualify for financial help. For 2026, this is about $62,600 for a single person, $84,240 for a couple, or $128,400 for a family of four.
On average, without ePTCs, health insurance premiums for people who enroll in coverage through the Health Connector will be higher than it was in 2025.
Impact on ConnectorCare Plan Type 3D Members
The ConnectorCare program was designed to help make health insurance more affordable for people with certain incomes who are eligible for federal APTCs. The state further subsidizes the premiums and other costs associated with these private health plans, making them more affordable. Plus, all ConnectorCare plans have standardized benefits, ensuring consistent coverage for members.
Starting in 2024, the ConnectorCare program was expanded as a two-year pilot program to include households up to 500 percent of the FPL. This expansion provides low-cost health insurance, no deductibles, and low co-pays to two new Plan Types:
- 3C for households with incomes between 300 percent and 400 percent of the FPL, and
- 3D for households with incomes between 400 percent and 500 percent of the FPL.
The state legislature expanded the ConnectorCare pilot program for one additional year. But due to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, ConnectorCare Plan Type 3D will not be offered in 2026. Therefore, households with income between 400 and 500 percent of the FPL will no longer qualify for the reduced premiums provided by federal APTC and ConnectorCare and will lose access to the cost-sharing benefits provided by ConnectorCare.
- If you have income between 400 and 500 percent FPL, you will only qualify for unsubsidized health plan options, which may result in higher out-of-pocket costs.
- ConnectorCare Plan Type 3C, for those with income between 300 and 400 percent FPL, will remain available through the end of 2026.
Take Action
If your circumstances change, be sure to review your account and keep your information up to date throughout the year.
Past Federal Actions
What Can You Do Now?
- Make sure your contact information, including your mailing address, email, and phone number, is up to date.
- Carefully review all mail, email, text alerts, and calls from the Health Connector.
- Check this page for important updates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Get Support
Call us at 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765) or TTY: 711. Call Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
You can also get help through one of the community organizations we partner with for our Navigator program. Depending on the organization, you can get free help:
- In person
- By phone
- By video chat
Find a Navigator, or other community organization where you can get help.