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Visit MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765)
or TTY: 1-877-623-7773, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Questions?
Employees that live outside of Massachusetts can visit healthcare.gov to nd out about Marketplaces in their region.
Overview of
Health Insurance Marketplaces
Questions?
Visit MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765)
or TTY: 1-877-623-7773, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Employees that live outside of Massachusetts can visit healthcare.gov to nd out about Marketplaces in their region.
THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM LAW (ALSO KNOWN AS
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OR ACA)
This notice is meant to help you understand health
insurance Marketplaces, which were set up to make it
easier for consumers to compare health insurance plans
and enroll in coverage. In Massachusetts, the state
Marketplace is known as the Massachusetts Health
Connector. Your employer is required by law to provide
you the information contained in this notice. You may or
may not qualify for subsidized health insurance through
the Health Connector. If you are offered coverage by
your employer that is considered “affordable” and
meets a “minimum value” standard according to federal
definitions (see below), you most likely will not qualify
for the subsidized coverage offered through the Health
Connector described in this notice. However, it may still
be helpful for you to read and understand the
information included here. Please ask your employer for
more information if you have questions.
Overview:
As a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there is an easy way for many individuals and
small businesses in Massachusetts to buy health insurance: the Massachusetts Health
Connector. This notice provides some basic information about the Health Connector, and
how coverage available through the Health Connector relates to any coverage that may be
offered by your employer. You can find out more by visiting MAhealthconnector.org.
What is the Massachusetts Health Connector?
The Health Connector is our state’s health insurance Marketplace. It helps individuals,
families, and small businesses find health insurance that meets their needs and fits their
budget. The Health Connector offers “one-stop shopping” to easily find and compare
private health insurance options from the state’s leading health and dental insurance
companies. Some individuals and families may also qualify for a federal tax credit that
lowers their monthly premium right away, as well as cost sharing reductions that can
lower out-of-pocket expenses. The next open enrollment for individuals and families to buy
health insurance coverage through the Health Connector is scheduled to begin on
November 1, 2024, through January 23, 2025. Individuals and families who experience a
qualifying event can shop outside of open enrollment periods. You can find out more by
visiting MAhealthconnector.org. or calling 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765).
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Visit MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765)
or TTY: 1-877-623-7773, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Questions?
Employees that live outside of Massachusetts can visit healthcare.gov to nd out about Marketplaces in their region.
Can I qualify for federal and state assistance that reduces my
health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses through
the Health Connector?
Depending on your income, you may qualify for federal and/or state tax credits and
other subsidies that reduce your premiums and lower your out-of-pocket expenses
if you shop through the Health Connector. You can find out more about the income
criteria for qualifying for these subsidies by visiting MAhealthconnector.org. or
calling 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765).
Does access to employer-sponsored coverage aect my eligibility for
help paying for coverage through the Health Connector?
An offer of health coverage from your employer could affect your eligibility for
subsidies through the Health Connector. If your income meets the eligibility criteria,
you will qualify for subsidies through the Health Connector if:
Your employer does not offer coverage to you, or
Your e
mployer does offer you coverage, but:
X Your employer’s offer of an employee-only or family plan for your household
would require you to spend more than the following percentage(s) of your
household income:
X
Or, the coverage your employer provides does not meet the “minimum value”
standard set by federal law (which says that the plan offered has to cover at
least 60 percent of total allowed costs).
If you have coverage through your employer but are interested in shopping through
the Health Connector, be sure to check with your employer on the rules around
how and when you can disenroll from your employer’s group coverage. If you purchase
a health plan through the Health Connector instead of accepting health coverage
offered by your employer, please note that you will lose the employer contribution
(if any) for your health insurance. Also, the amount that you and your employer
contribute to your employer-sponsored health insurance is often excluded from
federal and state income taxes.
Please note: You can nd the most up to date percentages used to calculate
affordability here: www.mahealthconnector.org/esi-aordability-calculator.
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Is your employer’s health insurance coverage affordable?
Coverage for 2024
8.39% of household income
Coverage for 2023
9.12% of household income
Questions?
Visit MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765)
or TTY: 1-877-623-7773, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Employees that live outside of Massachusetts can visit healthcare.gov to nd out about Marketplaces in their region.
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Visit MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765)
or TTY: 1-877-623-7773, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Questions?
Employees that live outside of Massachusetts can visit healthcare.gov to nd out about Marketplaces in their region.
EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH COVERAGE
This section will help you collect information about any health coverage offered by your employer.
If you decide to complete an application for coverage in the Marketplace, you will be asked to
provide this information.
Does this employer oer any of the following health coverage options for at least some employees?
Check all that apply.
Employer-sponsored health insurance that meets federal standards for affordability and
minimum value. Note: Whether a plan meets “minimum value” can be found on the plan’s
Summary of Benets and Coverage (SBC).
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA)
Qualied Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA)
If the employer oers any of the above options, and
if the employee receiving this notice qualies for
such benets, they can nd out more by contacting:
_ _ __ __ _____________________________________________
(may be an HR contact, a resource, or an appendix to this document)
If no health coverage options are oered, or if employee receiving notice does not qualify for
such benefits, the Health Connector can help employees evaluate coverage options, cost and
eligibility. Please visit MAhealthconnector.org. for more information, including an online application for
health insurance coverage.
Note: If the employee is offered an unaffordable ICHRA and would like to apply for nancial
help through the Health Connector, they must opt out of the ICHRA and notify the employer.
If the employee is offered an unaffordable QSEHRA, they can not opt out of their QSEHRA.
However, they may still qualify for nancial assistance through the Health Connector.
