LYNN — Open enrollment, when people can enroll in a health insurance plan or change their existing plan, begins this Sunday and Mass Health Connector and Lynn Community Health Center will be working overtime to get more people access to coverage.
“There’s no more important moment in the history of the world than now to educate our communities about the importance of health insurance,” said Josiane Martinez, who leads Mass Health Connector’s open enrollment campaign, in a virtual press conference Thursday.
The open enrollment period will last until Jan. 23. In order to get coverage for the coming year, residents must pick a plan and put down a payment on that plan by Dec. 23.
Elected officials in attendance, including Mayor Thomas M. McGee, Rep. Lori Ehrlich (D-Lynn), and State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), spoke on the importance of increasing health insurance access during the pandemic.
“Our city is committed to helping residents overcome the barriers to coverage,” said
McGee. “I look forward to working with them to make sure that all Massachusetts residents get covered and stay covered.”
Martinez spoke to the additional challenges of reaching residents during the pandemic.
“The biggest challenge is to get out there to our communities. Usually we have volunteers going out and knocking on doors,” she said.
Instead, Mass Health Connector and their community partners at Lynn Community Health Center will be conducting more appointments virtually.
Mass Connector has also introduced a new Spanish language website this year in order to reach more residents.
“I hope that people take advantage of [the site],” said Martinez. “This is another tool that makes it easier to get the coverage we need.”
Additionally, Lynn Community Health Center has extended its hours from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We are prepared,” said Suheili Rivera of the Lynn Community Health Center. “We are excited for open enrollment.”
Audrey Gastier, Chief of Policy and Strategy at the Health Connector, explained that they specifically hoped to get the word out to the chronically uninsured and to those who recently lost their health care due to unemployment.
“They’ll be really surprised by how affordable our options are,” she said.
The vast majority of those covered by Mass Health Connector qualify for ConnectorCare, the subsidized affordable health insurance plans offered through the Massachusetts Health Connector.
Ehrlich discussed the importance of getting everyone in the Commonwealth enrolled in health insurance.
Currently, 97 percent of the state is covered — the highest rate in the country — including 300,000 through ConnectorCare.
“We still strive to expand access until everyone who calls our state is covered,” said Ehrlich. She thanked the people at the Health Connector for their work getting the word out. “In a time of pandemic, [your] message will literally save lives.”
People can apply for coverage beginning Sunday on mahealthconnector.org.
Guthrie Scrimgeour can be reached at [email protected].
