Massachusetts Health Connector open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from Oct. 23, 2026, through Jan. 23, 2027, and Boston residents shopping for their own health insurance have a firm deadline to keep in mind: Dec. 23, 2026, for plans that start Jan. 1. Here is how the dates, state subsidies, free help and the state’s coverage requirement work this season.
Key 2027 open enrollment dates
The Health Connector posts a monthly payment-deadline table: enroll and pay by the 23rd of a month, and coverage starts on the first of the next month.
- Nov. 23, 2026: deadline for coverage starting Dec. 1, 2026
- Dec. 23, 2026: deadline for coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027
- Jan. 23, 2027: last day of open enrollment; coverage starts Feb. 1, 2027
First-time enrollees are not finished until they check out and make the first premium payment by the due date. Missing it pushes the earliest start date back one month.
Who can enroll outside open enrollment
According to the Health Connector’s open enrollment glossary entry, people can sign up at any time of year if they qualify for MassHealth, newly qualify for ConnectorCare, want a standalone dental plan, or are members of a federally recognized tribe or Alaska Native shareholders. Life events such as marriage, a birth or losing other coverage can also open a special enrollment period. Job-based plans may run on different calendars set by employers.
State subsidies for 2027 ConnectorCare plans
Enhanced federal premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act expired at the end of 2025. In an Oct. 23, 2026, press release, the governor’s office said Massachusetts spent a total of $600 million on the ConnectorCare program in 2026, including a $250 million increase, and will spend $620 million in 2027 from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund.
The state said approximately 279,000 ConnectorCare customers should see little to no premium increase in 2027. ConnectorCare plans have lower copays and no deductibles, according to the release. The administration also said it negotiated down proposed 2027 rate increases, which it projected would save residents and businesses $72 million.
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue notes in TIR 26-1 that, for 2026, ConnectorCare eligibility ends at 400% of the federal poverty level, consistent with federal advance premium tax credit rules. For a single person, 400% of the poverty level in that schedule is $62,600; for a family of four, it is $128,600.
The Massachusetts coverage requirement and penalties
Massachusetts has its own individual mandate. Under the 2006 health care reform law, most adults 18 and older who can afford insurance must carry coverage that meets the state’s minimum creditable coverage standards, and penalties are charged through the state income tax return. A gap of 63 consecutive days or less carries no penalty.
The DOR’s 2026 schedule sets no penalty for people at or below 150% of the poverty level. Above that, monthly penalties rise by income band:
- 150.1% to 200%: $26 a month ($312 a year)
- 200.1% to 250%: $51 a month ($612 a year)
- 250.1% to 300%: $76 a month ($912 a year)
- 300.1% to 400%: $117 a month ($1,404 a year)
- Above 400%: $211 a month ($2,532 a year)
People who believe a hardship kept them from buying insurance can appeal to the Health Connector. Coverage is reported on Schedule HC with the state tax return.
How many Boston residents are uninsured
U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024 1-year data (table B27010) show about 22,000 Boston residents without health insurance, or 3.3% of the city’s civilian noninstitutionalized population. Statewide, about 198,600 people, or 2.8%, had no coverage. Health costs are part of the larger picture in TBR’s Massachusetts affordability report, and hospital labor issues are covered in our report on Boston Medical Center residents.
Free enrollment help in Boston
The state says free, in-person help is available from Health Connector Navigators at 50 locations across Massachusetts in 29 languages. Navigators can explain options, check eligibility for financial help and complete enrollment. Residents can compare plans at MAhealthconnector.org or call 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765); TTY users can dial 711. The Health Connector also advises current members to update household and income information so their financial help is accurate for 2027.
Related reading
Sources
- Mass.gov: Governor Healey Kicks Off 2027 Health Connector Open Enrollment (Oct. 23, 2026)
- Massachusetts DOR: TIR 26-1, Individual Mandate Penalties for Tax Year 2026
- Massachusetts Health Connector: When is Open Enrollment?
- U.S. Census Bureau: ACS 2024 1-year, B27010 Types of Health Insurance Coverage by Age
Additional sources
- Massachusetts Health Connector: Open Enrollment Period
- Mass.gov: Health Care Reform for Individuals
- Mass.gov: Massachusetts Health Care Tax Schedules and Forms
- HealthCare.gov: Special Enrollment Period
Photo: Boston University Medical Center in Boston’s South End, by Cmcnicoll, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
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