People who are pregnant, regardless of immigration status, are eligible for MassHealth Standard if their income is less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. To apply for coverage through MassHealth or report a pregnancy, applicants should go to MassHealth or the Health Connector, or call to update their application or apply. Sign in or create an application to get started.

Individuals who have a disability (i.e., a medical condition that interferes with their ability to work) may qualify for additional help. For example, MassHealth Family Assistance is available to low-income immigrants aged 21 to 65 with an eligible disability and immigration status. To qualify, individuals need to submit a disability supplement.

• More information about MassHealth programs available to people with disabilities.
• Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) is a cash assistance program administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance in Massachusetts. Learn more and apply.
• The Massachusetts Prescription Advantage Program provides assistance with the cost of prescription drugs for individuals with disabilities with income at or below 188 percent of the federal poverty level. Learn more and apply.

Older adults may qualify for additional pathways to health coverage. To find out if you qualify for Medicare, a federal health coverage program, visit Social Security.

The state also offers some supplemental programs that may provide coverage and/or help paying for the costs of health care services.

• Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) is a cash assistance program administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance in Massachusetts. Learn more and apply.
• The Massachusetts Prescription Advantage Program provides assistance with the cost of prescription drugs for individuals age 65 or older with income less than 500 percent of the federal poverty level. For those not eligible for Medicare, Prescription Advantage provides primary prescription drug coverage. Learn more and apply.

An individual’s immigration status impacts the coverage they are eligible for from the Health Connector and MassHealth. Check your immigration status in your application online or by calling MassHealth or the Health Connector to make sure it is up to date and correctly shown. Additionally, some additional characteristics can interact with immigration status to expand eligibility for certain programs.

Find Resources for Immigrants in Massachusetts →

Individuals up to age 26 could be eligible for Employer-Sponsored Insurance (ESI) through a parent. Eligible individuals can enroll in an employer’s plan during their annual open enrollment period or if they have a qualifying life event. To find out more, talk to the employer sponsoring the plan.

People who are HIV positive may qualify for help paying for health coverage and medications. The Massachusetts HIV Drug Assistance Program (HDAP) is a program of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), administered by Community Resource Initiative. Learn more and apply.

In Massachusetts, colleges and universities are required to offer a Student Health Insurance Program to all full-time and qualifying part-time students, and students are required to enroll in the SHIP or waive with comparable coverage. Individuals may find that enrolling in a SHIP through their university is a more cost-effective option than a health plan without financial assistance through the Health Connector. If you had this requirement waived because you were enrolled in ConnectorCare, and that coverage has ended, you will have 60 days to sign up for your school’s plan, the cost for which may be pro-rated by term.

Individuals that may not otherwise qualify for coverage may be eligible for the Health Safety Net (HSN) and/or MassHealth Limited. Learn more about these programs.

Because of federal policy changes made for next year, some people who are currently in a Health Connector plan will no longer be eligible for help paying for their plan. Many of those people were recently told they are now eligible for Health Safety Net coverage, a different program outside of the Health Connector.

About Health Safety Net

If you are eligible for Health Safety Net, you can have access to a wide range of health care services, but only when they are provided at hospitals and community health centers around the state. Services available as part of Health Safety Net include:

• Urgent care and emergency services
• Primary care, including preventive care and screening
• Prescription drugs
• Immunizations
• Lab services, including imaging such as X-rays and MRIs
• Specialist office visits
• Behavioral and mental health benefits
• Dental, vision, and additional health services

You should receive material from MassHealth that provides you with more information about Health Safety Net, and how to get access to the services you need that are provided. You can learn more about Health Safety Net, including where you can find hospitals and community health centers in the program, at www.mass.gov/info-details/health-safety-net-for-patients.

If you are getting care from a doctor outside of a community health center or hospital, you will need to find a local community health center or hospital to continue to get the care you need through Health Safety Net.