03. What is the Health Connector?

The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (Health Connector) performs all the functions of a Marketplace (also called an Exchange) under the ACA. It also continues to administer a 2006 state health reform law that among other things imposed a tax penalty on adults who fail to enroll in health insurance that meets the Health Connector’s standards of affordability. It is an independent authority governed by an 11 member appointed board of directors. The Secretary of EOHHS is the ex officio chairperson of the Connector board. Board meetings are open to the public and the Connector website (mahealthconnector.org) posts copies of monthly enrollment trends and presentations made to the board at its monthly meetings. The Connector has a central office in Boston and walk-in centers in Boston, Brockton, Worcester and Springfield shown in the Resource section of this Guide.