Massachusetts law now limits when individuals and families can purchase health insurance from health plans, the Connector, or other agents or brokers.
Under Massachusetts law, individuals and families buying health insurance on their own, outside of an employer's plan or a government-subsidized program, can only buy health insurance during an open enrollment period. The last open enrollment period ended on August 15, 2011. There will not be another open enrollment period until July 1 of 2012.
There is a waiver process for persons who are seeking insurance outside of open enrollment, but the circumstances under which waivers will be granted will be extremely limited. You must first apply for health insurance and then be denied before you can apply for a waiver. The insurer or agent to which you applied will provide the waiver form to you. You can also find a link to the waiver form below.
If you have questions about the law that governs open enrollment and eligibility, please call the Division of Insurance at 617-521-7794 or visit its website at www.mass.gov/doi.
Please also see Division of Insurance Bulletin 2011-19 .
If you have any questions about access to health insurance please call Health Care for All at 1-800-272-4232.
If you have questions about the waiver process, please call the Office of Patient Protection at 1-800-436-7757.
Please also see the
Frequently Asked Questions for more information about open enrollment and waivers 
This information is provided by the Office of Patient Protection within the Department of Public Health.