Health care reform information for people with changing incomes

Overview

National health care reform provides opportunities to individuals and families in Massachusetts to get health insurance and, for many people, help paying for it. Individuals with changing incomes may include:

  • Self-employed workers
  • People with more than one source of income
  • Seasonal or temporary workers
  • Students
  • Couples and families with a self-employed member

Massachusetts residents who are self-employed or have incomes that change throughout the year may benefit from how the Health Connector eligibility application works. This is because members can sign into their account at any time of the year and update their estimated income if it changes and will update program and financial assistance eligibility.

Also, for individuals and families who receive an Advance Premium Tax Credit to help lower their monthly premiums, you have the option to can adjust the amount of the tax credits used throughout the year—up to the maximum amount you are eligible for—as your income changes.

This is very important because, when you file your taxes and report your actual income for the calendar year, the advance tax credits you recieved are reconciled and if your true income was higher than your estimate, you may have to pay back the additional tax credits you recieved. But, by lowering the amount of tax credits you use throughout the year as you see your income is higher than estimated, you can lower the chance of having to paying back the difference to the IRS.

Learn more about Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) and your tax return reconciliation →

Questions and Answers

Under Massachusetts reform laws, most people must have health insurance if it’s affordable to them. There can be tax penalties for not being insured. Learn more about the state requirement to have insurance →

The rules around shopping as a small business through the Health Connector have changed. If you are the owner of a business that has no eligible employees other than your tax dependents, you will need to shop as an individual or family, instead of as a small business. However, most of the health plans available to small businesses are the same as the health plans offered to individuals through the Health Connector. And, you may be able to qualify for help paying for your coverage through programs that are available only for individuals and families.

Yes, when you apply, you will be able to find out which programs you can qualify for. The three main ways to get help paying for coverage are

  1. through MassHealth (Massachusetts’ Medicaid program),
  2. ConnectorCare health plans, and
  3. premium tax credits that lower your monthly insurance premium.

All applications for help paying for coverage can be submitted through the online application, or by filling out a paper application that is used by both the Health Connector and MassHealth.

National health reform raised income limits for people who can qualify for help paying for health insurance. Individuals and families who do not have access to affordable health insurance from an employer or other program, and meet certain eligibility requirements, may qualify for ConnectorCare plans or a tax credit to lower their monthly premiums. 

You can get an estimate on what programs and savings you may qualify for by using our quick tool →

Eligibility for help paying for insurance is no longer determined by your gross (total) income. Under national health reform, Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is now used instead. Under MAGI you can factor in business expenses that you write off for tax purposes (your Schedule C losses) when calculating your income. This means that many more people may qualify for help who might not have been able to get it in the past. Most people can look at their adjusted gross income (line 8b on their Form 1040 or 1040-SR income tax return) to see what their MAGI number will most likely be. This is an important change to understand for those who are self-employed or have combination income sources that include self-employment income.

You can apply during Open Enrollment and any time of year if you meet certain requirements.

While the Open Enrollment period ended January 23, 2024, you can get coverage any time of the year if

  • you experience a qualifying event*,
  • are eligible for MassHealth, CMSP, ConnectorCare plans, or
  • you would like to purchase a dental plan. 

Find out more now →

*Qualifying events include (but are not limited to): adding a dependent through birth or marriage, moving to a new permanent address, or becoming a citizen, national, or lawfully present individual. Get more information about qualifying events →

Yes, help paying for insurance through tax credits and low-cost ConnectorCare plans is only available through the Health Connector. Even if you enroll in a plan without help paying for it through the Health Connector, if you end up qualifying for a tax credit based on your income for that year, the IRS will let you to claim the tax credit when you file your taxes at the end of the year. But the tax credit is not available for someone who buys a plan outside of the Health Connector.

You can also apply through the Health Connector website to see if you qualify for MassHealth coverage.

It’s common for income to change throughout the year, particularly if you are self-employed, have a seasonal job, or more than one job. To get the most accurate tax credit amount, you should let the Health Connector know if you have any income changes during the year, as they happen. If you expect your income to go up during the year, you may want to consider changing the amount of tax credit that you apply to your monthly premiums, so that you take less than the full amount available to you.

If you use your tax credit during the year and your actual income is over the amount that makes you eligible, you may need to pay back some or all of the credit. You always have the option of waiting until you file your taxes next year to take the credit on your tax return, instead of applying it to your premiums in advance. This may make sense for you if you aren’t sure what your income will be for the year, and are concerned about having to pay money back at tax time.

You can explore the information on this website or call Customer Service at 1-877 MA ENROLL (1-877-623-6765) or TTY: 1-877-623-7773. For in-person help, you can work with a Navigator or a Certified Application Counselor at a local hospital or community health center. These are people who have been trained to help you apply through the Health Connector. For a list of people in your area, got to the Enrollment Assister Search or call Customer Service.