For individual health insurance, Boston residents use the Massachusetts Health Connector. Open Enrollment for 2027 runs Oct 23, 2026 – Jan 23, 2027; choose and pay by Dec 23 for Jan 1 coverage. One Boston-specific change: Fallon Health will not be offered in Suffolk County in 2027, so current Fallon members should compare plans this fall.
Updated for the 2027 plan year (October 2026). Reviewed by a licensed agent.
- Fallon members in Suffolk County: act this fall
- Key 2027 dates for Boston
- The state mandate and Boston tax filers
- Boston hospital networks to check
- Free navigator help: the Mayor’s Health Line
- Neighborhood health centers
- Health insurance Boston savings by income
- Students, researchers and young workers
- Frequently asked questions
Fallon members in Suffolk County: act this fall
Fallon Health will no longer offer Health Connector plans to people who live in Suffolk County, which includes Boston, starting with 2027 coverage. The Connector’s 2027 updates page says affected members will be enrolled automatically in the lowest-cost plan at the same level in their area unless they choose a different plan.
Automatic placement keeps you covered, but it does not check whether your doctors are in the new plan’s network. If Fallon is your current carrier, use Open Enrollment to compare your options. Seven other insurers sell 2027 plans statewide: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim, Health New England, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare and WellSense. Not every carrier serves every ZIP code.
Key 2027 dates for Boston health insurance
Boston follows the Health Connector calendar, not HealthCare.gov’s. The window opened earlier than usual this year and runs longer, according to the Connector.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2026 | Open Enrollment for 2027 opens |
| Dec 23, 2026 | Choose a plan and pay the first premium for a Jan 1 start |
| Jan 23, 2027 | Open Enrollment ends; coverage starts Feb 1 |
| Any time | Apply for MassHealth, ConnectorCare, CMSP or Health Safety Net, or enroll after a qualifying event |
Moving to Boston from another state, losing job coverage or having a baby can open a Special Enrollment Period. For the statewide picture, see our Massachusetts health insurance guide and our national Open Enrollment 2027 timeline.
The state mandate and Boston tax filers
Going without health insurance in Boston has a tax consequence that most Americans do not face. Massachusetts requires adults who can afford coverage to carry a plan meeting Minimum Creditable Coverage (MCC) standards, and the Department of Revenue collects a penalty on the state return from those who do not.
You report coverage on Schedule HC using Form MA 1099-HC, which insurers send by January 31. Gaps of up to three consecutive months are allowed, people with income up to 150% of the poverty level are exempt, and the penalty is capped at 50% of the minimum monthly premium for qualifying coverage. Full rules are on the Connector’s individual mandate page.
New arrivals should take note: a cheap short-term or limited plan bought out of state may not meet MCC, which can leave you owing the penalty even though you paid for coverage.
Honesty.AI checks MCC rules, your doctors’ networks and your savings across every Boston plan.
Boston hospital networks to check
Boston has one of the densest concentrations of academic hospitals in the country, so networks drive most plan choices. Major systems include Mass General Brigham (Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston Children’s and Boston Medical Center, which runs the busiest trauma and emergency services in New England.
Insurer and hospital names can overlap; Mass General Brigham Health Plan is one of the 2027 carriers. Do not assume a plan with a similar name, or a low premium, includes the hospital you use. Search each plan’s directory for your specific doctors and hospitals before you choose health insurance. Boston patients in ongoing treatment should also confirm prescriptions on each plan’s drug list.
Our guide on how to choose a health plan explains HMO and PPO rules and how to read a directory.
Free navigator help: the Mayor’s Health Line
Boston’s Health Connector navigator is the Boston Public Health Commission, through its Mayor’s Health Line. The Connector’s in-person help directory lists it at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, with phone numbers 1-800-847-0710 or 617-534-5050.
The listing shows help in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Haitian Creole and Cape Verdean Creole. Navigators help with MassHealth, ConnectorCare and Connector plan applications at no cost, and they never ask for payment. The Boston Public Health Commission is also the city’s health department.
Neighborhood health centers in Boston
Boston’s community health centers are a backbone of primary care in the city. HRSA’s health center data lists federally qualified health center sites run by organizations including NeighborHealth, Harbor Health Services, Codman Square Health Center, Upham’s Corner Health Center, Dimock Community Health Center, Whittier Street Health Center, Mattapan Community Health Center, DotHouse Health, Fenway Health, South Cove Community Health Center and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program.
These centers offer sliding-fee care and often have staff who help with MassHealth and Connector applications. Eligible low-income residents can use the Health Safety Net for care at community health centers and hospitals. Confirm locations with HRSA’s Find a Health Center tool.
Health insurance Boston savings by income
Most Boston households who buy their own coverage qualify for help. The Connector screens for every program with one application.
- MassHealth for most adults up to 138% of the poverty level (about $22,025 for one person in 2027).
- ConnectorCare from 100% to 400% of the poverty level, with no deductibles and low copays.
- Federal premium tax credits on other Connector plans up to 400% ($63,840 for one person). There is no federal credit above that for 2027.
The full income tables are in our affordable health insurance Massachusetts hub and our 2027 subsidies guide. Immigrant families should note that from January 1, 2027, federal credits and ConnectorCare are limited to green card holders, Cuban and Haitian Entrants, and COFA migrants.
Two-earner households near the 400% line should estimate carefully before buying health insurance. Boston salaries can push a household over the line mid-year, and starting with 2026 tax returns there is no cap on repaying excess advance credit. The Connector lets you take less than the full credit each month to reduce that risk, and you should report raises as they happen.
Students, researchers and young workers
Boston’s many colleges, universities and research hospitals draw students and early-career researchers from around the world, and Massachusetts has a specific rule for them. Students enrolled at 75% or more of a full-time load must enroll in their school’s Student Health Insurance Program or waive it with comparable coverage, per the Connector’s student health page.
After graduation, the school plan ends. That loss of coverage opens a Special Enrollment Period, and income from a first job or a postdoc stipend may still fall within ConnectorCare’s range. Young adults can also stay on a parent’s plan until 26.
How Honesty helps Boston residents
Honesty.AI is the world’s first patented, licensed AI insurance agent, and it works for you. When comparing health insurance, Boston residents can see every 2027 plan for their ZIP code, check doctors and prescriptions against each network, confirm MCC status, and compare ACA, alternative and ancillary options.
Honesty® Insurance Services, LLC is licensed in Massachusetts. There is no Boston office; Honesty answers 24/7 by chat, voice or text. See how Honesty.AI works.
Find your 2027 Boston plan the honest way
Compare every Health Connector plan in Boston with your savings applied, and enroll in minutes. Honesty Is Your Best Policy®.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fallon Health available in Boston for 2027?
No. Fallon Health will not offer Health Connector plans in Suffolk County for 2027. Current members will be moved to the lowest-cost plan at the same level unless they choose a different plan during Open Enrollment.
Who offers free health insurance enrollment help in Boston?
The Boston Public Health Commission’s Mayor’s Health Line is a Health Connector navigator, reachable at 1-800-847-0710 or 617-534-5050. Help is free and available in several languages.
Will I pay a penalty if I am uninsured in Boston?
You may. Massachusetts adults who could afford coverage meeting Minimum Creditable Coverage standards and go without it for more than three consecutive months can owe a state tax penalty. Income up to 150% of the poverty level is exempt.
When must Boston residents enroll for January 1, 2027 coverage?
Choose a plan and pay your first premium by December 23, 2026. Open Enrollment continues until January 23, 2027, with coverage starting February 1 for later sign-ups.
Can Boston college students skip their school health plan?
Only with comparable coverage. Students enrolled at 75% or more of a full-time load must enroll in the school’s Student Health Insurance Program or waive it using comparable coverage such as MassHealth, ConnectorCare or a parent’s plan.
Keep learning: read the statewide Massachusetts health insurance guide, compare savings in the affordable health insurance Massachusetts hub, see our Worcester, MA guide, or check the 2027 subsidy tables.
