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Request an Open Enrollment Waiver

If you did not purchase health insurance during the last open enrollment period, you may still be eligible to sign up for or enroll in health insurance by requesting a waiver from the Office of Patient Protection (OPP).

Most Massachusetts consumers must buy health insurance during a specific time of year when enrollment in health insurance is open. This open enrollment period is set by state and federal law and changes each year. Please note that the 2025 open enrollment period ended on January 23rd. The next open enrollment period begins on November 1st. 

You must first apply for health insurance with a health insurance company, insurance broker, or the Health Connector. If you are denied enrollment, you will receive a written notice either online or by mail. Once you receive the notice denying enrollment in health insurance, you may request an open enrollment waiver.              
Not every request is eligible for external review. The Office of Patient Protection will determine if your request is eligible.    


What is a Qualifying Event?

If you have a qualifying life event—like getting married, losing a job, having a child, or losing health insurance coverage—you may be able to buy and enroll in health insurance outside of the open enrollment period. To learn more about qualifying life events, visit the Connector.


What You Need

  • Completed online Open Enrollment form (more versions listed below)
  • A notice from the Health Connector, health insurance company, or broker denying enrollment in health insurance due to being outside open enrollment 

How to Submit Your Completed Request

Online

Complete all pages of the OPP waiver request form through our secure online form. You will be asked to upload a notice denying enrollment in health insurance.

By mail

Please note: At this time OPP may accept mail only through United States Postal Service with no signature of receipt required. Correspondence mailed that requires a signature or uses other delivery services will be returned to sender.

Mail your completed waiver form to:

Health Policy Commission             
Office of Patient Protection             
50 Milk Street, 8th Floor             
Boston, MA 02109

By fax

Fax your completed waiver form to 617-624-5046.


Forms

Please note: These are different versions of the same form. You are only required to fill out one of these forms.

Secure Online Open Enrollment Waiver Form (online submission only)

Open Enrollment Waiver Form - English.pdf (mail or fax submission)            
Open Enrollment Waiver Form - English.docx (mail or fax submission)            
Open Enrollment Waiver Form - Spanish.pdf (mail or fax submission)            
Open Enrollment Waiver Form - Spanish.docx (mail or fax submission)


After You Submit Your Request

OPP will respond to you within 30 days of receiving your waiver form. If OPP asks you for any additional information, please send it back as quickly as possible. 

If your waiver is denied, you must wait until the next open enrollment period to enroll in coverage. 


Frequently Asked Questions About Open Enrollment Waivers

Individuals and families can buy or enroll in health insurance during the open enrollment period from November 1 through January 23 without a waiver.

Open Enrollment Period

What is the open enrollment period?

The open enrollment period is a specific time of year when consumers can buy health insurance. This open enrollment period is set by state and federal law and may change each year. Consumers who receive health insurance benefits from their employer may have a separate designated period when they can make plan selections.

Can I enroll in health insurance outside of the open enrollment period?

If you have a qualifying life event—like getting married, losing a job, having a child, or losing health insurance—you may be able to enroll in health insurance outside of the open enrollment period without requesting a waiver. To learn more about qualifying life events, visit the Connector.

Also, you can enroll any time of year if:

  • You qualify for MassHealth.
  • You now qualify for a ConnectorCare Plan through the Health Connector after not having qualified in the past, or after applying for the first time.
  • You are applying for dental insurance.
  • You are a member of a federally recognized tribe or Alaska Native shareholder.

I am losing my current health insurance. Do I have to wait until open enrollment to enroll in a new health insurance?

Typically, losing health insurance is considered a qualifying life event. This includes losing health insurance through a job, becoming ineligible for MassHealth or ConnectorCare, or aging out of your parent’s plan when turning 26. You have 60 days from the date when you lose your health insurance to enroll in new health insurance.

What if I am eligible for MassHealth? 

Do you want to renew your MassHealth insurance? Did your MassHealth coverage recently end? You may apply for MassHealth at any time during the year. You DO NOT need an open enrollment waiver from OPP to apply for MassHealth. Please visit MASSHEALTH or call their customer service line at 1-800-841-2900 for eligibility, benefits, or other helpful information. For information about eligibility for subsidized health insurance including MassHealth, you may also call Health Care For All at 800-272-4232.

Open Enrollment Waivers

What is an open enrollment waiver?

An open enrollment waiver is a letter from OPP that allows you to enroll in health insurance outside of the open enrollment period. If you are granted an open enrollment waiver by OPP, health insurance companies may not deny you enrollment on the basis of being outside open enrollment. Massachusetts residents who have a qualifying life event – like getting married, losing a job, having a child, or losing health insurance – do not need to request a waiver.

Is there a fee to request an open enrollment waiver?

No, there is no fee to request an open enrollment waiver.

What happens if OPP denies my request for an enrollment waiver?

If you do not qualify for an open enrollment waiver, you will need to wait to buy insurance until the next open enrollment period.

If OPP grants my request for an open enrollment waiver, must I then enroll with the health insurance company that initially denied my application?

Yes. If granted an open enrollment waiver by OPP, you must seek to enroll in health insurance from the health insurance company that initially denied your enrollment. If you enrolled through the Connector or a broker, you should return to the Connector or the broker who issued your initial enrollment denial.

Does my open enrollment waiver expire?

Yes. The open enrollment waivers may only be used within 30 days from the date on the letter. If you did not use your open enrollment waiver to enroll in health insurance within 30 days, please contact OPP.

Where can I get a waiver of the state or federal tax penalty for not having insurance?

The Office of Patient Protection does not issue tax penalty waivers. Please contact the following for information:

 

Eligibility

Who can request an open enrollment waiver?

Massachusetts residents who missed the last open enrollment period and have not experienced a qualifying life event may request an open enrollment waiver. The Office of Patient Protection reviews waiver requests and typically grants open enrollment waivers to individuals and families who:

  • Are uninsured and did not intentionally forgo enrollment in health insurance, or
  • Lost health insurance but did not find out until after 60 days had passed.

Can I enroll in employer-sponsored health insurance by requesting an open enrollment waiver?

No. If you are seeking to enroll in employer-sponsored health insurance or other insurance obtained as a member of a group, you are not eligible for an open enrollment waiver. Your employer may limit health insurance enrollment to certain times during the year. You should talk to your employer about your needs.

I am new to Massachusetts. Should I request an open enrollment waiver to sign up for insurance?

Moving to Massachusetts from another state or another country is considered a qualifying life event. Therefore, you may be able to buy insurance without a waiver. 

See a full list of qualifying life events.

I could not afford to purchase health insurance until now. Can I get an open enrollment waiver to enroll now and avoid any additional penalty?

You may request an open enrollment waiver, but you will need to explain why you did not buy health insurance during the last open enrollment period.

If you could have applied for health insurance coverage during open enrollment and did not do so, then you may have to wait for the next open enrollment period to buy insurance.

Will I get an open enrollment waiver if I can prove that I need medical care?

No. The Office of Patient Protection is unable to consider health conditions when reviewing an open enrollment waiver request.

Accessibility and Other Assistance

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, or speech disabled, you may call OPP at 617-979-1413 through the 711 Telecommunications Relay Service, or through the Voice Relay Service of your choice.

Where can I ask questions or get help with the open enrollment waiver form?

Please review the information on this page, or contact OPP at 800-436-7757 or [email protected] for assistance. Please do not send personal health information or other confidential information to OPP by email because OPP cannot guarantee the confidentiality and security of information sent to OPP by email.

I do not speak English. Can I get help in another language?

Yes. Contact the Office of Patient Protection by calling 800-436-7757. An interpreter will help translate the conversation.

I have a disability. How can I request accommodation?

If you need an accommodation to complete the open enrollment waiver request form, please contact OPP at [email protected] or at 800-436-7757.

Contact OPP

Phone

Main

(800) 436-7757          
Translation services available.

TTY and ASCII Users

(800) 720-3480

Voice and Hearing Users

(800) 720-3479          
People who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened,                  
or speech disabled may reach OPP with MassRelay.