Massachusetts Health Connector Begins Open Enrollment

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Health Connector has started open enrollment for 2018, providing members and new applicants the opportunity to pick a health insurance plan for the New Year, and officially kicking off a full-scale, statewide outreach and education campaign.

Massachusetts has the highest insured rate in the country, with 97.5 percent of the state's residents covered according to the U.S. Census. The lead up to Open Enrollment has created national concern about outreach activities, particularly in states that are part of the federal government Exchange. Consistent with the commonwealth's mission to support access to affordable health coverage for everyone, the campaign emphasizes outreach and visibility in communities with higher uninsured rates.

"Massachusetts is a leader in coverage and we remain committed to reaching everyone and providing access to health care to everyone," said Louis Gutierrez, the executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector. "Through our Navigators, community-based outreach, enrollment events and other methods, we are bringing the same energy to Open Enrollment as we have in past years."

Open Enrollment starts on Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 23, 2018, longer than the Nov. 1-Dec. 15 federal deadline, and is consistent with past Massachusetts Open Enrollment periods. The Health Connector is planning a number of other outreach and enrollment support activities this year that mirrors the Exchange’s past commitment to comprehensive Open Enrollment activities.

· The Health Connector will fully fund the second year of its two-year grant cycle commitment to Navigators, supporting 16 agencies across the state through $1.6 million funding, consistent with 2016-17 funding of the program. Navigators submitted applications covering more than 9,000 people during 2017 Open Enrollment and helped more than 5,000 renew coverage. Members and applicants can search for local Navigators at the Health Connector website.

· The Health Connector will continue to outreach communities with higher rates of uninsured, similarly to last year. Messages will be delivered around the state in seven languages, with more nearly 1,000 window signs distributed to local businesses and organizations, more than 18,000 information cards distributed to potential members, and events held around the state to direct people to enrollment support services.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.