![]() ![]() Once the emergency concludes, states will begin to reevaluate who is eligible for coverage, something they've been prohibited from doing since 2020 in order to ensure uninterrupted Medicaid coverage for low-income people.Ī revolutionary development: Multi-cancer early detection tests could save lives, but we still have a lot to learn. ![]() This year's open enrollment is particularly critical, as up to 15 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage when the COVID-19 federal public health emergency ends, according to the Department of Health and Human Services − in some cases for reasons as simple as not having updated an address or contact information. is in the midst of its annual open enrollment period, when people can enroll in a health insurance plan for the following calendar year. New Jersey and California also require all residents be enrolled in a health insurance plan. In New England, Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island all mandate health insurance for eligible residents − meaning if someone cannot afford health insurance or has experienced a particular hardship, they will not be penalized. In 2022, only five states and the District of Columbia require health insurance coverage at the state-level through local versions of individual mandates. are currently without health insurance coverage. Today, an estimated 26 million people in the U.S. Passed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, mandated health insurance for nearly all Americans, but Congress later repealed the individual mandate penalty in 2017, meaning individuals would no longer be punished financially at the federal level for not having health insurance. states require all residents who can afford it to have health insurance coverage, and three of them are in New England. GLCAC, online at, is a multi-faceted social services agency that assisted 32,648 individuals in 2017 through a range of programs including early childhood education, fuel assistance, WIC nutrition assistance, immigration services, lead poisoning prevention, child abuse prevention, English-language lessons, and consumer protection.Watch Video: Does your state require health insurance? Find out. Yet, there are still some residents without insurance.Īccording to the Health Connector, the three main groups that account for those still uninsured are ethnic populations, particularly Latino men those who have left a job or are losing coverage from work and people moving into Massachusetts from other places. Massachusetts leads the nation in the rate of insured residents, with 97 percent of the state covered, according to the U.S. Information on health insurance options and online enrollment is available at. Walk-in hours are available from 9:00 a.m. The program will also be open from 8 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and from 8:30 a.m. Appointments are recommended to reduce wait times.ĭuring Open Enrollment, the Navigator program will be open from 8:30 a.m. GLCAC has been designated an official Navigator by the Health Connector and will be open during the week and one Saturday a month during the open enrollment period to help residents gain access to health care coverage.Ĭall GLCAC at (978) 620-4784 to set up an appointment with a Navigator staff member. State law requires Massachusetts residents to have health insurance that meets state standards, or potentially face a tax penalty. “Choosing a health plan can be a confusing process, but GLCAC is here to help families find an affordable option that fits everyone’s individual needs.’’ “If you don’t have health insurance or are interested in a different plan, now is the time to sign up,’’ said Evelyn Friedman, GLCAC’s executive director. The Health Connector will offer 57 plans from nine carriers. This is the time of year when anyone without health insurance can sign up for coverage, and when existing Health Connector members can shop for the best plan for the new year. Open enrollment for plans offered by the Massachusetts Health Connector runs from Nov. is available to help residents sign up for health care during the state’s open enrollment period, which begins Nov. The Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc. ![]()
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