Massachusetts Launches Campaign to Help Residents Keep Health Coverage

Governor Maura Healey launched a statewide public awareness campaign on Tuesday to help people in Massachusetts keep their health insurance. The campaign is aimed at members of MassHealth, the state's health insurance program for people with low incomes. New federal rules could cause as many as 300,000 Massachusetts residents to lose their coverage if they don't complete extra paperwork.

The new rules come from a federal law that President Trump signed last summer. The law, called the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' makes big changes to Medicaid programs across the country. MassHealth is Massachusetts's version of Medicaid, which is a government program that helps people who cannot afford health insurance on their own.

For a long time, people in two federal safety-net programs were automatically added to MassHealth. These programs help very poor families with children, people with disabilities, and elderly people. Starting this fall, that automatic enrollment will end, which means people will have to apply on their own to keep their coverage.

Over the next year, about 360,000 MassHealth members will need to fill out extra forms to prove they qualify for the program. Many of them will also have to renew their coverage every six months instead of once a year. Legal experts are worried that many of these people may not know about the new rules or may have trouble following them in time.

Governor Healey blamed President Trump for creating what she called 'unnecessary paperwork and confusing new requirements.' She said the state will do everything it can to help people through the changes. 'These are working families who rely on this program to afford their health care,' Healey said.

Starting in January, MassHealth members between the ages of 19 and 64 will need to show proof that they meet new work or education requirements. This means they may need to show they have a job, are in school, or are doing job training. However, some people may be able to get an exemption, which means they won't have to meet those requirements.

People who may qualify for an exemption include pregnant women, parents of children who are 13 years old or younger, people living with a disability, and people dealing with certain health conditions. MassHealth officials said they will try to identify members who qualify for exemptions automatically using information they already have on file. This should make the process easier for those people.

The state has already set aside $10 million to help community groups and a nonprofit organization called Health Care For All assist MassHealth members. These groups will offer outreach, help with enrollment, and one-on-one support. However, Healey said the state will likely need about $30 million in total to cover staffing, outreach, and technology updates.

Jennifer Lemmerman, the executive director of Health Care For All, said the campaign is a direct response to federal cuts. 'This campaign is the antidote to the drastic federal cuts to health care programs that will have deep and lasting negative impacts on the people of Massachusetts,' she said. Her organization is one of nearly 50 community-based groups that will be helping MassHealth members navigate the changes.

State officials are urging all MassHealth members to take a few important steps right away. They should make sure their mailing address, email address, and phone number are up to date with MassHealth. Members should also open every letter they receive from MassHealth, especially the blue renewal envelope, and watch for emails, text messages, and phone calls from the program.