Massachusetts: MA Health Connector reminds enrollees they have until 12/23 for January coverage

via the Massachusetts Health Connector:

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.

Note: The hard number I was given by the Health Connector as of a week earlier was actually higher--297,498...but the 288K figure likely only includes those who have already paid their first premium (Massachusetts is one of only two states which also handles premium billing).

By visiting MAhealthconnector.org, current members can review their options for next year to make sure they are in the plan that best their needs for next year, and people without health insurance can apply and enroll in new coverage. About three-quarters of Health Connector members are in the state’s unique ConnectorCare program, which offers especially affordable premiums.

Connector offers 56 plans from nine carriers, providing members with a variety of plans to meet their individual needs. All the exchange’s plans meet the state’s coverage standards, ensuring vital services like annual physicals, pregnancy and maternity care, and mental health benefits are covered. Unlike predatory plans that are on the rise nationally and use deceptive websites or unwanted telemarketing calls, the Health Connector ensures members can be confident that essential medical needs are covered by their plan.

For members or new applicants who need help with their health insurance coverage for next year, the Health Connector provides in-person assistance at more than 30 locations across the state at walk-in centers and Navigator organizations. People can find more information on in-person assistance, including for more than 1,500 Certified Application Councilors across the state at MAhealthconnector.org/enrollment-assisters.