Boston Public Health Commission Encourages Residents To Apply For Health Insurance Throughout Open Enrollment

Massachusetts Open Enrollment runs from November 1, 2025, to January 23, 2026.

BOSTON – October 31, 2025 – Federal modifications are threatening entry to well being care nationally and in Boston. For many residents, it’s already difficult to navigate the medical insurance system and preserve protection, however federal choices to extend premiums, restrict insurance coverage eligibility, and reduce funding solely deepen inequities in well being entry and create extra limitations to holding households wholesome. While these modifications are complicated and scary, Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston, and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) strongly encourage residents to reap the benefits of the quite a few protection choices out there in Massachusetts and apply for medical insurance, together with MassHealth, by means of the Massachusetts Health Connector Marketplace through the upcoming Open Enrollment interval from November 1, 2025 – January 23, 2026. For those that want help navigating the State’s utility course of, BPHC’s Mayor’s Health Line can present help.  

“Health insurance is the most powerful tool that we have to ensure access to primary care, emergency care, and treatment for chronic diseases,” stated Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. “Massachusetts has long led the nation in expanding access to affordable health insurance coverage. Here in Boston, we want to ensure that residents know that there are resources available to navigate the system and secure affordable coverage.” 

Residents searching for protection can discover choices on the Massachusetts Health Connector, a state-based medical insurance Marketplace that makes searching for reasonably priced well being and dental protection simpler for people, households, and small companies. People can examine and buy plans, apply for subsidies to decrease premiums, evaluate eligibility for State packages like MassHealth (Medicaid) and the Health Safety Net, and handle current protection. Individuals and households can safe protection through the Open Enrollment interval or inside 60 days of a qualifying life occasion, reminiscent of shedding job-based protection or the start of a kid. 

For those that want further assist making use of for medical insurance, the Mayor’s Health Line (MHL) is a free, confidential, well being data and referral service operated by the Boston Public Health Commission. It helps all residents no matter immigration standing. Residents can name the Mayor’s Health Line at 617-534-5050 Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Help is accessible in all languages by means of multilingual workers who communicate English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Cape Verdean Creole and thru a language line service. 

“The Health Connector and great Navigator organizations like the Boston Public Health Commission are ready to help members and new applicants find coverage that affordably delivers access to services,” stated Audrey Morse Gasteier, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. “Having health insurance means the ability to put the health and financial security of yourself and your family first. It means you can take care of annual physicals, screenings, prescriptions for chronic disease, and other ways of staying healthy without worrying about costly trade-offs.” 

In addition to the Mayor’s Health Line, help can also be out there for sufferers at their local people well being facilities, hospitals, community-based organizations, and walk-in Enrollment Centers. People can find a close-by enrollment location on the Health Connector’s web site.  

The Boston Public Health Commission estimates that roughly 300,000 Boston residents are insured by means of personal insurance coverage, together with employer-sponsored, personal and sponsored plans by means of the Health Connector. While federal coverage modifications will probably lead to premium will increase throughout many revenue ranges, essentially the most drastic whole value will increase will probably be seen by people and households that had obtained enhanced premium tax credit beneath the Affordable Care Act. For instance, a single mum or dad household of two incomes roughly $85,000 would lose roughly $1,000 in assist yearly. Premium will increase and the uncertainty round them threaten to lead to monetary pressure, stress, and in the end lowered protection enrollment for low revenue and dealing households in Boston. 

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15, 2025 to December 7, 2025, and residents who’re 65+ or have qualifying disabilities can join protection immediately from the federal government-run market at medicare.gov. For those that want help navigating Medicare, MHL and the City of Boston’s Age Strong Commission has skilled SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) counselors who may help. The Age Strong Commission is internet hosting over 20 free in-person Medicare Open Enrollment clinics throughout Boston, and residents can name Age Strong at 617-635-4366 to make an appointment.