> it was like talking to a brick wall.

Same. That's the exact experience we're having, and what prompted this post. I didn't realize you also need a qualifying event during the enrollment period, though, that seems ass-backwards. What's the point of an open enrollment period if its not actually open?

>the customer service was actually pretty good once we were "qualified".

That's a relief to hear, at least. Hopefully they'll be similarly "accommodating" with our qualifying event of just... moving in to the state.

Thanks for sharing your experience, it really helps assuage the anxieties.

Thanks! We'll try that

That is a really nice plan, from the sounds of it!

Thank you, gonna need it 🙏

You have an HMO through them? When I called this morning, the lady on the line insisted they only do EPOs... Good news, then;

But also that monthly premium is more than my rent will be :')

Yeah, the health connector has just... Not been helpful. Not the site and not the call center operators. That's why we asked here. Thanks for your response!

Thank you! I hadn't mentioned it but shortly after the post I'd made the facepalm level discovery that there are two buttons there, one prominent one to show you if you qualify for credits, and one less prominent that is exactly what you're describing. It helped to get an idea for sure. I'm also now planning to use that list to contact individual providers, as you mention. Thanks!

Thanks for pointing us in the right direction! Appreciate it

Oh my god. That sounds like a total nightmare tbh, I wouldn't even know where to begin with that stuff. I'm glad it sounds like you've almost got it sorted for this year though! My work entails a lot of contact with Medicare patients, but thankfully I don't need to know anything about it other than if they have it or not...

Right? Sheesh. I hope you ended up finding the info you were looking for, though!

Thanks so much for that link! That's very helpful, better than the other health connector site (why are there two? Haha).

Gosh, thanks lots! I appreciate it. I just applied for health insurance for the first time in general here in CA and it took over an hour... But then looking at MA, and now with my fiancee on the plan instead of just myself, it sent my head spinning.

15 mins from an hour though, you've got it down pat haha

Got it, thanks a bunch! I'd remembered that the site had that preview of what credits you qualify for, and that's where I'd seen the type whatever connectorcare. Using the info you gave me I re-calculated my current annual income (which I suppose unfortunately is a bit more than last year haha), and it shows that whole I don't qualify for connectorcare, I qualify for "Health Connector Plans with Advance Premium Tax Credit," and the subsidy it shows is only about $100 less than the connectorcare one, so that's not bad if it works the same way, I think!

If it's not too much to ask, would you mind if we possibly sent you a message in the future when it's actually time to apply, in case we need it? I totally understand if you'd rather not! You've actually done a lot to clear up my anxieties around this stuff already

Thank you. My understanding of connectorcare is it's kind of like a subsidy based on income?

I actually remember coming across this, but it didn't sink in exactly what it meant. Do you know how they calculate your annual income? If it's hourly wage x 2080, or if they look at your paystubs and math it out from there... And is it pre- or post- tax?

I know I could probably maybe find this myself if I dug hard enough, and you've already been a great help, but I'd really appreciate it 🙏

Edit: my understanding of the subsidy thing is due to the preview option on mahix, which says we qualify for a tax credit and says connectorcare plan type etc etc... But of course that's based off of the very rough estimate of income I put in

Alright, thank you. I appreciate your input 🙏

Do all employers offer insurance up there? I currently work in Cali and will be going remote, and they don't offer insurance. I've got my own for the time being, but of course it's only for CA.

The state marketplace being the health connector, right?

I don't believe I'd qualify for cobra, but I believe it should be fine for the time being. As I understand it, I don't have a lot of time to source new insurance after I move, anyway, since the "qualifying event" of moving isn't indefinite

Alright, I suppose that makes sense. Thank you for the reply

That makes a lot of sense, thank you for the reply. I'm glad to hear that at least the process sounds straightforward once we actually have a Mass address.

Are EPOs really the only option though? Even if the network is large or generous, it's a bit strange I think.

It's also a bit troublesome finding quotes online, most sites seem to just exist to harvest your information. That's part of why we're trying to find out in advance, in order to be able to budget. Coverage for 2 people seems to range wildly between like $400 and even $1600, and it would help vastly to Joe what to expect...

Thanks again for the reply!

We looked. How is Obamacare or similar useful for people above the poverty line and below the age of 65? There's health connector, but as ive been replying to everyone, they refuse to give any information until we are actually in the state, which we won't be until spring. They also told me they only do EPOs, not PPOs and HMOs. How is that possible? Does the entire state not have PPOs?

Hey there, thanks for the reply. The site lists different options, and obviously for us it links us to health connector. The thing is, the website requires a mailing address at the very least, and we don't have one in Mass until after we move, obviously. I called them on the phone, and they were entirely unwilling to provide any information until I move and apply for something.

Moreover, they only do EPOs and not PPOs or even HMOs... That's not ideal, to say the least. Are PPOs not available in Massachusetts? That can't be the case...

Yes, exactly. But we are moving in spring, not now. We don't have an address. And again, that site is only for EPOs. Is there nothing else? We'd like to know what our options are before we move and have to scramble to find something.

Hey there, thanks for the suggestion. The thing is, the website requires a mailing address at the very least, and we don't have one in Mass until after we move, obviously. I called them on the phone, and they were entirely unwilling to provide any information until I move and apply for something.

Moreover, they only do EPOs and not PPOs or even HMOs... That's not ideal, to say the least.