PrintIf you lost your health insurance or you think you cannot afford health insurance, you may be able to get free or low cost health coverage from MassHealth or the Health Connector.
If you already have MassHealth, during the COVID emergency, special protections are in place to keep you covered.
How to apply for MassHealth or coverage from the Health Connector
Apply for MassHealth
If you are under 65 you can:
- Apply online. You can apply in English or Spanish.
- CallMassHealth Customer Service to apply over the phone: (800) 841-2900. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled, call TTY: (800) 497-4648
If you are any age, you can:
- Fill out a paper application form. You can get the form in English or Spanish from the MassHealth website. Call customer service to get the form in another language.
- Mail it to the address on the form.
- Fax it to the number on the form. Or
- Drop it off at a MassHealth Enrollment Center.
- If you have questions or you need help:
- Call the MassHealth Customer Service Center: (800) 841-2900. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled, call TTY: (800) 497-4648. Or
- Schedule a video or phone appointment with MassHealth in advance.
- You can also visit a MassHealth Enrollment Center to apply.
Enroll or sign up for MassHealth
- After you apply, if MassHealth finds you qualify, you are covered by MassHealth right away.
- Most people also need to pick a managed care plan. If you do not pick a plan for yourself, MassHealth will assign a plan for you. You can get help to decide the plan you want or change your plan. Call MassHealth Customer Service or one of the Certified enrollment assistance organizations that help people apply for help.
Apply for Health Connector
- Apply online. You can apply in English or Spanish.
- Fill out a paper application form. Call customer service to get the form in another language.
- Mail it to the address on the form.
- Fax it to the number on the form. Or
- Drop it off at a Health Connector walk-in center.
- Call the the Health Connector’s Customer Service Center to apply and get other help: 1-877-623-6765. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled, call TTY 1-877-623-7773.
- You can also visit Health Connector walk-in centers to apply.
Enroll or sign up for a health plan
If you apply and the Health Connector decides you qualify, you must pick a health plan. You have to pay the first month’s premium by the 23rd of the month to have coverage on the 1st of the next month. If your income is low, you may be able to enroll and not have to pay a premium.
Important
You must enroll within 60 days from the date you get a letter that says you can enroll in ConnectorCare or other coverage. At some times of year, people with income too high for ConnectorCare may need to take more steps so they can enroll. You can apply at any time.
To make a payment:
-
- Sign into your account.
- If you do not have login information, Make a payment as a guest; or
- Mail a check or money order to the address on your invoice, or drop off your payment at a Health Connector walk-in center.
- Visit our ConnectorCare page for more information about ConnectorCare.
What if I was asked to send in proof to complete my application and I cannot get the paperwork?
During the COVID emergency and until further notice, MassHealth will accept your sworn statement as proof, if you find it hard to get documents that show information, like your income or assets.
- Call MassHealth to give them this information over the phone, or
- Fill out a self-attestation form.
You can get a summary of this and other rules in place during the COVID emergency from MassHealth’s website.
How to keep your MassHealth coverage
For most people, MassHealth only ends during the COVID emergency if you move out of state or ask MassHealth to end your coverage/'close your case.'
During the COVID emergency, you cannot lose your MassHealth benefits just because:
- your income is now too high for MassHealth,
- you did not return forms by a deadline, or
- you did not give them information they asked for by a deadline.
But, if you report a change that shows you qualify for a different kind of MassHealth, they may switch you to the different kind of MassHealth. They can do this during the COVID emergency even if the different kind of coverage has fewer benefits than the kind of MassHealth you have now.
After the COVID emergency ends:
- MassHealth will send out renewal forms to see if you still qualify for MassHealth.
- You may lose coverage if you do not return a renewal form or give them the information they ask for.
- Make sure MassHealth has your current address so you do not lose your MassHealth coverage when the COVID emergency ends.
- We do not know exactly when the COVID emergency will end, but it will not before the summer of 2022.
How to reach MassHealth & the Health Connector
In person
MassHealth Enrollment offices in Chelsea, Charlestown, Tewksbury, Springfield, Quincy, and Taunton are open for walk-in visitors. Office locations are listed here.
MassHealth encourages people to schedule phone or video appointments instead of visiting a MassHealth Enrollment Center. Click here to schedule an appointment.
The Health Connector Worcester, Boston, and Springfield walk-in centers are open. Locations and offices hours are shown here.
By phone
Call MassHealth Customer Service: 1-800-841-2900. Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled, call TTY: 1-800-497-4648.
Call the Health Connector’s Customer Service:1-877-623-6765. Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled, call TTY: 1-877-623-7773.
Get help in a language other than English
Over the phone
Both MassHealth and the Health Connector Customer Service Lines have a Spanish language option.
For other languages:
- Press '0' after the automated message, then pick your language.
- If you do not hear the name of your language, press “1.”
- When someone answers, say the English name of your language, and
- Wait for them to arrange a phone interpreter.
By mail or fax
Mail your application to: Health Insurance Processing Center PO Box 4405 Taunton, MA 02780
Fax your application: (857) 323-8300
If you are applying for long term care services, or if you are 65 or older
Mail your application to: MassHealth Enrollment Center PO Box 290794 Charlestown, MA 02129-0214
Fax:(617)887-8799
Get help to apply for or pick a health plan from MassHealth or Health Connector Coverage
You can also get help from local Navigators or Certified Application Counselors when you want to apply for MassHealth or Health Connector coverage or enroll in a plan.
Hospitals, health centers and many community organizations can help you enroll. Working with these people who are trained to help you is probably the best/easiest way to make sure you get the right plan for you. See the Enrollment Assister Search for a list of organizations near you. State-wide assistance is available from Navigators and the Health Care for All Helpline.
Help in a language other than English
The list of local Navigators and Certified Application Counselors includes the languages their staffs speak. These organizations use phone interpreters to help you with other languages.
Important
If MassHealth or the Health Connector deny your application because they say you do not qualify, you have the right to appeal. Find free legal help with your appeal.
Coverage for Coronavirus testing, treatment and vaccination is free
All types of MassHealth including MassHealth Limited, (emergency Medicaid) cover the costs of testing and treatment for Covid-19 at no cost to members.
Health Safety Net also covers the costs of testing and treatment for Covid-19 provided by hospitals and community health centers at no cost to patients.
All Health Connector plans cover the costs of testing and treatment for Covid-19 at no cost to members.
Check the national covid website to find other resources near you that offer free COVID testing and treatment whether you have insurance or not.
At-Home Test Kits
All Masshealth, Health Safety Net (HSN), and Children’s Medical Security Plan (CMSP) members, can get up to 8 free at-home self-test kits per month. You do not need a prescription.
All Health Connector plans also cover 8 free at-home self-test kits per month. You do not need a prescription..
All households can order 4 free COVID-19 tests, shipped to their home, from the federal government www.covidtests.gov. If you ordered these 4 free tests before March 7, 2022, you can order another 4 free tests now.
The Vaccine
The COVID vaccine is free. You do not need to prove that you have health coverage to get the vaccine. Find vaccination locations.
MassHealth helps people with MassHealth, the Children’s Medical Security Plan (CMSP), or the Health Safety Net get rides to vaccine appointments. See a list of questions and answers about this service.
If you find it difficult to travel to a vaccine appointment, MassHealth can schedule a home visit. Call (833) 983-0485 to schedule your in-home vaccination. .
Remember to apply for other benefits too
- Apply for Unemployment
- Apply for SNAP
- Apply for Rental Assistance
- Apply for Affordable Internet/Cell Service and Discounted Devices
- Claim Missed Pandemic Cash Payments
Find resources for other ways the public health emergency may affect you on Mass.gov/covid-19.
You have the right to an interpreter