Stay Informed About Federal Changes

Page last updated: November 10, 2025

The federal government has made changes to who qualifies for help paying for health insurance that could affect your coverage and costs starting in 2026. 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.

Contents

Key Federal Policy Changes and Their Impact

Federal Changes to Eligibility for Financial Help Impacting ConnectorCare Plan Type 1 Members

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

What’s Happening?

  • Currently, Massachusetts residents who are not eligible for Medicaid due to their immigration status can 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.
If your income is below $15,650 for an individual or $32,150 for a family of four, you will no longer qualify for APTCs. As a result, ConnectorCare eligibility will also end for individuals in this income range.

What This Means for Members and Applicants:

  • If you are in ConnectorCare Plan Type 1, you will no longer be eligible for financial help.
  • You will lose help paying for premiums, your co-pays will increase, and plans will include a deductible.
  • From mid-October through early November, members receive a Final Eligibility notice from the Health Connector with information about 2026 eligibility based on federal changes and the information on file in your Health Connector account.
  • After receiving your notice, review your account and update your application. Changes in your household size, income, or immigration status may affect your eligibility.

Take Action

  • After you receive your preliminary eligibility notice, you review your account and make updates to 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).

You may qualify for help paying for coverage through the Health Connector if your expected 2026 household income falls into these ranges:

Income Ranges for 2026 Eligibility

 

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

Expiration of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs)

Effective Date: January 1, 2026

What’s Happening?

  • Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), which have helped lower monthly health insurance costs for many people since 2021, are set to expire on December 31, 2025, unless Congress takes action to extend them.

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.

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.

Unless Congress extends ePTCs, households earning above 400 percent FPL will no longer qualify for APTCs, and ConnectorCare Plan Type 3D will no longer be available. For 2026, members in this income range will lose access to the reduced premiums provided by federal APTC and ConnectorCare and will lose access to the cost-sharing benefits provided by ConnectorCare.

  • If you are a ConnectorCare member in Plan Type 3D, you will lose access to reduced premiums and cost-sharing benefits. You will need to explore unsubsidized health plan options, which may result in higher out-of-pocket costs.
  • ConnectorCare Plan Type 3C will remain available through the end of 2026.

Past Actions

Effective Date: August 25, 2025

What Happened?
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients is no longer be considered lawfully present by the federal government for the purpose of enrolling in Marketplace coverage.

What This Means for Members and Applicants:

  • Coverage for DACA recipients enrolled in a plan through the Health Connector ended August 31, 2025.

Take Action

  • A change in income or immigration status may change your eligibility for coverage. You should review your account and update your information.
  • If, after updating your information, you find that you are still not eligible for coverage through the Health Connector, you may explore other coverage options, such as employer-sponsored insurance or plans purchased directly through a carrier.

Effective Date: August 25, 2025

What’s Happened?
The special enrollment period (SEP) that allows people with incomes at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to enroll year-round ended.

What This Means for Members and Applicants:

  • Outside the Open Enrollment period, no new SEPs will be opened based on having income at or below 150 percent FPL.
  • This change limits access to coverage for those who miss the Open Enrollment window.
Household size If income is at or below
1 up to $22,590
2 up to $30,660
3 up to $38,730
4 up to $46,800
For each extra person, add: $8,070

Take Action

  • People with incomes at or below 150 percent of the FPL will need to enroll during the regular Open Enrollment period or qualify for a different special enrollment period (SEP) if you experience a qualifying life event.

The Health Connector is committed to helping you navigate these changes. Stay connected and informed to make the best decisions for your health coverage in 2026 and beyond. 

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.

Update Your Account

Review your account and report changes to make sure your eligibility is up-to-date.

Learn How to Start

Send Proof

Send documents (proof) you owe as soon as possible.
Learn More

Find Help Near You

If you need help, enrollment assisters are located throughout Massachusetts.

Find Help

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs) are a temporary expansion of the financial help available to lower the cost of health insurance premiums for individuals and families. These were introduced under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and extended through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

With ePTCs, you may:

  • Get More Financial Help: ePTCs increase the amount of tax credits you can receive, which lowers your monthly premium costs.
  • Qualify Even with Higher Income: ePTCs allow households earning above 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to qualify for financial help. For example, in 2025, this includes individuals earning more than $58,320 or families of four earning more than $120,000.

If Congress doesn’t extend ePTCs, they will expire on December 31, 2025, and you may see your premiums increase in 2026.

Without Congressional action, ePTCs will expire on December 31, 2025, which means many people will lose financial help and see their premiums go up in 2026.

Currently, ePTCs allow individuals and families earning above 400 percent FPL to qualify for financial help. Without ePTCs, you won’t be eligible for this assistance if your income is above these limits:

  • $58,320 for an individual
  • $78,880 for a couple
  • $120,000 for a family of four

See the FPL charts for additional household sizes.

If ePTCs expire, members earning above these income limits will need to pay the full cost of their premiums without financial help. This could result in significantly higher monthly costs for coverage. For example, a family of four earning $120,000 could see their premiums increase by hundreds of dollars per month.

We encourage members to check their income and household details in their Health Connector account to see how these changes might affect them. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to monitor any actions Congress may take.

It’s very possible. Premiums are set by insurance companies and approved by the Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI). They are based on factors like:

  • Your Age: Older individuals usually pay higher premiums.
  • Where You Live: Premiums vary by location.
  • Your Plan Type: The level of coverage (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold) and benefits included in your plan affect the cost.
  • Health Care Costs: Rising medical and prescription drug costs can lead to higher premiums.

Your eligibility for an Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC), which helps lower your monthly premium, is based on:

  • Your Income: Your household income as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
  • Your Family Size: The number of people in your household.
  • Where You Live: The cost of the benchmark plan in your area.
  • The Benchmark Plan: The second-lowest-cost Silver plan in your area is used to calculate your APTC.

If Congress doesn’t extend ePTCs, your premiums will likely increase if you currently receive this financial help. Without ePTCs, people earning above 400 percent FPL won’t qualify for financial assistance, and those earning below 400 percent FPL may receive less help.

You’ll receive a 2026 Preliminary Eligibility Notice in the mail. This notice will tell you what you qualify for based on the information the Health Connector has on file.

To make sure your eligibility is accurate, log in to your Health Connector account and update your information. Changes in your income, household size, or other details could affect your eligibility.

If your Preliminary Eligibility Notice says you don’t qualify for financial help, here are some possible reasons:

  • Your Income is Below 100 percent FPL: If your 2026 income is below $15,650 for an individual or $32,150 for a family of four, federal law changes mean you won’t qualify for APTCs or ConnectorCare.
  • Your Income is Above 400 percent FPL: If your 2026 income is above $62,600 for an individual or $128,400 for a family of four, federal law changes mean you won’t qualify for APTCs or ConnectorCare.
  • Your Income Couldn’t Be Verified: If the Health Connector couldn’t verify your income with the IRS, you’ll need to update your application and submit proof of income.

Learn about other reasons why you may not qualify for financial help.

 

What can I do?

If any of these apply to you, sign in to your Health Connector account, update your information, and submit any required documents (proof) you may owe to make sure your eligibility is up to date.

You can find detailed information on how to cancel your health plan in a Help Center page, “Canceling your Health Connector or ConnectorCare plan.”

If you are signed up for AutoPay, you can cancel it at any time.

First, sign in to your account and click the “Make Payment” button on the dashboard to go to the member portal.

Then, go to “AutoPay” under “Payments” in the main menu. Under “Action,” click the “Cancel” link next to the AutoPay setup you want to cancel.

You can also call Health Connector Customer Service at 1-877-623-6765 (TTY: 711 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled.)

Remember, if you cancel your AutoPay, you will still need to make payments for all upcoming bills. If your bills are not paid on time, you could risk losing coverage.

Note: If you are using AutoPay and cancel your health or dental policy, your AutoPay will automatically be deactivated. If you re-enroll in a Health Connector plan, you will need to set up AutoPay again.

For the first time in 2026, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can be used with all individual plans on the Health Connector’s Bronze tier and Catastrophic plans. HSAs let you set money aside to help you pay out-of-pocket health care costs through an account that lets you save money at tax time. Most larger banks and personal finance companies offer quick and easy HSA options with information about how to deduct HSA contributions at tax time.

Find out more about HSAs →

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.