The first annual six-week open enrollment period to purchase individual health insurance ends in one week.
Until August 15, Massachusetts residents who either want to purchase individual or family health insurance coverage or want to switch their existing coverage will be able to do so will via the Health Connector, or directly from health plans. After August 15, under a new state law, the window of opportunity shuts until next July.
Until last year, Massachusetts individuals and families could buy or switch their health plans at any time they needed to throughout the year. Concerns about abuse from “jumpers and dumpers” – policyholders switching to more extensive and expensive coverage right before they needed care and then switching back or even dropping that plan after they received treatment – prompted the legislature to enact open enrollment, which is, of course, only “open” during a very limited time frame.
The law means that unless some individuals or families act within the next week they will either be stuck with the plan they have or, for many of those who are currently uninsured, with no plan whatsoever.
This open enrollment period only applies to residents purchasing insurance for themselves or their families, not to residents who are eligible for employer- or government-subsidized coverage or to self-employed residents.
The open-enrollment period doesn’t apply to everyone though. Certain residents who meet “special conditions” are exempted from the open-enrollment restrictions.
The Department of Public Health’s Office of Patient Protection will consider applications for waivers from people who have been denied insurance coverage because they missed the open enrollment period, depending on the reasons why they missed their opportunity during the open enrollment period
For more information, residents can visit to the Health Connector’s web site, mahealthconnector.org, call the Connector at (877) MA-ENROLL, or call the HelpLine at 800-272-4232.
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