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Massachusetts Health Insurance Companies
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Massachusetts Health Insurance Options
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How to Get the Most Savings
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Massachusetts Health Insurance FAQS
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How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Health Insurance Companies
There are around 12 health insurance companies that offer plans in Massachusetts. With that many options it’s hard to know where to start. So, to kick off your search we’ve highlighted a few of the more popular carriers. Here’s a look at what they have to offer:
TUFTS Health Plan
As one of the few insurers in Massachusetts to participate in the commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid subsidized marketplaces, Tufts Health Plan provides coverage for all stages of life, regardless of circumstance or age. Through its partnership with the Massachusetts Connector, Tufts Health Plan provides subsidized Qualified Health Plans for individuals and families. Tufts Health Direct is one of these plans.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a well-known full-service health insurance carrier that offers a wide selection of plans to accommodate a variety of needs and budgets. They offer HMO and PPO policies. Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies with branches in many states. Enrolling in one of their policies gives you access to their expansive network and all the perks that come with it.
Fallon Community Health Plan
The Fallon Community Health Plan offers its members a variety of options, including HMO and POS plans.
You might be eligible for a subsidy to help cover the cost of your insurance plan, depending on the structure of your household and your income level.
With Fallon’s plans, there is a $5 fee for some prescriptions, and a $10 copay is required for visits to your primary care physician’s office. Additionally, these plans do not have fees for lab procedures like blood tests, which can help you save money while maintaining your health.
Health Insurance Marketplace in Massachusetts
If you’re looking for a health insurance plan in Massachusetts, the health insurance Marketplace is a great place to start. Marketplace health insurance, which was created by the Affordable Care Act, offers certain consumer protections, guarantees coverage for pre-existing conditions, and includes coverage for what are known as the “10 essential health benefits”:
- Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care)
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care (both before and after birth)
- Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment (including counseling and psychotherapy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management
- Pediatric services, including oral and vision care (but adult dental and vision coverage aren’t essential health benefits)
The ACA-compliant plans offered on the Marketplace are divided into different types, known as metal tiers: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. These tiers do not signal a difference in quality of care, though. The tiers differ in your out-of-pocket costs versus what your plan covers.
It’s important to remember that the Marketplace only offers the plans of participating providers. So unfortunately, while the Marketplace is a great tool, you may not be able to compare every plan available to you.
Whether you want a Marketplace plan, or a plan from a private insurer, an EZ agent can help. We work with all carriers in your state in so we can compare all options available.
Over half of the uninsured in Massachusetts who qualify for Marketplace insurance coverage could get a Bronze plan for FREE.
Massachusetts’ Short Term Health Insurance Guidelines
In some states, you can purchase a short-term health insurance plan if you have missed the Open Enrollment Period or need a health insurance plan for a short amount of time to fill a gap in coverage. But Massachusetts is one of the states that has banned the sale of short-term health insurance. But don’t worry there are plenty of other options for health insurance in Massachusetts!
Massachusetts Health Insurance Options
You can find some great health insurance plans in Massachusetts by looking at all of your options. Your employer might actually be one of your best options, if they offer a group health plan. Because your company receives discounts for purchasing group policies, these plans are typically less expensive than individual plans.
Another great option is to use Massachusetts Health Connector, the state’s health insurance exchange. The state exchange can be used to compare the plans you have access to.
If you are older or lower-income, you should also check your eligibility for a government-funded program. Medicare provides medical insurance to citizens 65 or older, or to adults with certain disabilities. Medicaid provides affordable or often free insurance policies to low-income individuals and families.
Working with an agent is an excellent option, as well. An EZ agent can compare both on- and off-Marketplace choices, and we can ensure that your insurance will cover all of your medical needs, at a price that works for you.
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How to Get the Most Savings
The cost of healthcare in Massachusetts is quite low as compared to other states. In fact, your state is only the 44th most expensive state overall, with an average annual cost of healthcare per person of $12,754. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still take certain steps to reduce the cost of your care.
Maintaining good health is the first step to keeping your rates low. Your monthly premium could cost more based on your body mass index (BMI). So, if you’re among the 25.2% of Massachusetts residents who are overweight, you could be paying more than you need to! Maintaining a healthy BMI will help keep you and your bank account healthy.
Another thing that can raise your rates is smoking or using other forms of tobacco. In Massachusetts, 10% of adults are reportedly smokers, so if you’re among them, your insurance rates could be as much as 50% higher than those of nonsmokers! Consider quitting to reduce your premiums. Not to mention smoking is linked to many health conditions, so quitting can improve your health too.
But working with an agent is still the easiest way to save money. An EZ agent will work with your budget and can find local discounts to save you even more money. In fact, you could save hundreds of dollars a year on health insurance thanks to our agents. Another way you’ll save money by working with us? There is never any fee for our services, and you’re under no obligation to buy.
Massachusetts Health Insurance FAQS
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Does Massachusetts require you to have health insurance?
Since 2006, Massachusetts law has required residents to have health insurance coverage. Even though there is no longer a federal tax penalty for not having insurance, failure to have health insurance in Massachusetts can result in a state tax penalty under state law.
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What is the cheapest health insurance in Massachusetts?
The cheapest health plan will be a Bronze plan, which can start as low as $390 a month. Remember, though, health insurance plan prices can vary depending on age, zip code, gender, and other factors.
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How much does health insurance cost in Massachusetts?
The average monthly premium for health insurance in Massachusetts is $535, or $6,420 per year, with plans as low as $390 a month to as high as $1,501.
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Which insurance companies offer plans in Massachusetts?
The top 12 insurers in your state are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Boston Medical Center Health Plan, ConnectiCare of Massachusetts, Fallon Community Health Plan, Fallon Health & Life Assurance Company, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Health New England, HPHC Insurance Company, Tufts Associated HMO, Tufts Health Public Plans, Tufts Insurance Company, and UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.
How to Enroll in Health Insurance in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, there are various ways to sign up for a health insurance plan. You can sign up through your employer if they offer a group plan. You can also purchase a plan online through an insurance company’s website, but keep in mind using the company’s website will only give you their plans as options. Or you can use the Marketplace, where you can enroll in any of the participating carrier’s policies. No matter how you do it, though, enrolling can be difficult and time-consuming.
But EZ is on hand to assist! We’ll review all of your options using the data you give us and take care to consider your financial and medical circumstances, as well as any subsidies you may be eligible for. We can answer any of your concerns, and once we help you find the right plan, we can guide you through the enrollment process.
If you still have questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-670-3557. When you call, you will be directly connected to a local insurance agent who can answer all of your questions and help you find the health insurance plan that works best for you.
