Members of a campaign aimed at persuading people to enroll in the state’s Health Connector program took their message to the sidewalks and corner stores of Dorchester’s Four Corners last week.
Each year, the Commonwealth’s official health insurance marketplace holds an open enrollment period to help residents sign up for health and dental coverage that they can manage themselves with a little help from specialists and maybe be eligible for a subsidy.
This year, the enrollment period opened on Nov. 1. It will close on Jan. 23.
Last Wednesday morning, as commuters and pedestrians navigated along a frosty Washington Street, representatives from the Health Connecto,r bundled in coats, hats, and scarves, made their pitch directly to business owners, workers, and customers.
“Right now is open enrollment. It’s the time of year when anyone who doesn’t have health insurance can come in and get covered,” said Jason Lefferts, Mass Health Connector’s senior director of External Affairs. “It’s our busiest time of year and our most important time of year.”
Lefferts was part of the group, helping to hang up posters in and around storefronts like Court Market and Herb N Juice Cafe.
Hitting the business districts in neighborhoods like Dorchester is essential, he said, to making sure every person knows what’s at stake.
“Every year we have priority communities where we know there are higher rates of uninsured, but also communities that we know we have a lot of members,” Lefferts told The Reporter. “Worcester, Springfield, and Dorchester, in some order, are our three biggest communities.”
He added: “We know there are a lot of people in the neighborhood who already get coverage from us, but the likelihood is there are a lot of people here who need coverage, and they probably qualify for a subsidy.”
Through the Mass Health Connector, individuals can compare plans and enroll in coverage that fits both their needs and budgets.
“We’re making the rounds, putting up the flyers and posters,” said Lefferts. “We know people in the neighborhood are in and out of these places all the time, so there’s a constant message in front of them as they come in or walk by.”
The reminder is beneficial for current members as well, he noted.
“I think the biggest thing this year is we are still watching what’s going on at the federal level in terms of the enhanced premium tax credits,” Lefferts said. “For our current members, that’s an issue. We want those people to also reach out to us and if they need it, get help.”
Whether an individual is a returning member or a brand new subscriber to the connector, Lefferts’s advice is the same: Start the process sooner rather than later.
“My advice is to do it now. They are going to get insanely busy as we reach the deadlines. Go and talk to a navigator now, figure out what your situation is, and figure out the right plan. Call us or go to a navigator, don’t hesitate to ask for help.”
For more info, go to mahealthconnector.org or call 1-877-623-6765.
