Mass. residents have until Dec. 23 to find affordable, comprehensive health coverage for January 2026

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Massachusetts Health Connector’s New Year deadline is looming, with residents without health coverage having until Dec. 23 to enroll in affordable, comprehensive health insurance that starts Jan. 1, 2026.

Most people who apply for health insurance through the Health Connector get help paying for their coverage through the ConnectorCare program. The Health Connector is the state’s health insurance Marketplace, the only place where residents can get help paying for their coverage, and where residents can be assured they are getting a comprehensive health plan they can count on and avoid the junk plans that lurk on search engines.

“The Health Connector remains the place where Massachusetts residents can turn when they need health insurance. We’re able to provide most people with help to lower their health care costs and offer them the peace of mind that their coverage will cover the services they need to stay healthy and financially secure,” said Audrey Morse Gasteier, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. “The deadline for coverage to start 2026 is coming up very quickly, and now is the time for anyone who needs coverage to look at their options and enroll in a plan.”

Open Enrollment started Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 23, 2026. However, most people who need health insurance – whether it’s people who aren’t covered by job-based insurance, have recently moved to Massachusetts, work in our state’s vibrant gig-economy, or are otherwise without insurance – want coverage to start the new year. The deadline for a plan starting Jan. 1 is Tuesday, Dec. 23.

Open Enrollment is also when current Health Connector enrollees can check their accounts and costs for the next year, and comparison shop among different plan options. Many enrollees are seeing sharply increasing premiums for 2026 due to changes to their eligibility and subsidy amounts because of federal policy changes made by President Trump and Congressional Republicans. Enrollees can use Open Enrollment to find a plan that meets their needs and get into a new plan if necessary. Members can get updated information about these changes, and access the Health Connector Get an Estimate tool, at MAhealthconnector.org/updates.

Most people who apply for a plan with the Health Connector are eligible for the Health Connector’s unique ConnectorCare program. ConnectorCare plans make coverage more affordable through lower premiums and co-pays, and the absence of deductibles. ConnectorCare plans also provide no-cost prescriptions for chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Adults in Massachusetts are required to have health insurance and may face a state tax penalty if they do not. But some products marketed online don’t meet state standards and don’t deliver real coverage and benefits to people who buy them. That means people may not get access to care or get stuck with a big bill and may end up having to pay a penalty for having a plan that doesn’t meet state standards. To make sure a plan is comprehensive and to access help paying for coverage, residents should enroll through the Health Connector.

Massachusetts residents who need coverage can go to MAhealthconnector.org to complete an application and see what coverage and plans are available. People who need help can call Health Connector customer service at 877-MA-ENROLL (TTY: 711), with special additional hours on Saturday, Dec. 20, with customer service open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Tuesday, Dec. 23, customer service is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with anyone in the queue at 6 p.m. being able to access help even after 6 p.m.

Also, in-person help with the application and selecting a plan is available at more than 50 Navigator locations around the state. Navigators are trained, knowledgeable experts at finding health insurance for people in their communities and provide assistance in more than 30 languages. Residents can find a Navigator in their community by clicking the “Help Center” button at the top of the Health Connector’s homepage.

About the Massachusetts Health Connector

The Massachusetts Health Connector is the country’s first and longest-running state-based Marketplace, having been created in 2006 to provide high-value coverage to individuals and small businesses in the Commonwealth and to serve as a policy and outreach hub for both state and federal health reforms designed to expand and improve coverage. More than 417,000 individuals and small-employer members receive health and dental coverage through the Health Connector.

To learn more, visit MAhealthconnector.org and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.