MA Health Connector Open Enrollment Starts Nov. 1

11:04AM / Thursday, October 17, 2024Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Open Enrollment season begins Nov. 1 for customers of the Massachusetts Health Connector, which administers subsidized ACA health plans.

CHP Berkshires is now scheduling appointments to assist area residents with finding new coverage or updating their current plan.

The income limits for Health Connector subsidized plans are now $69,400 for an individual and $155,000 for a family of four. As a result, many more individuals and families now qualify for these subsidized Health Connector plans.

Current customers of MA Health Connector, or people seeking to enroll for the first time, can visit https://www.mahix.org to get started. However, CHP welcomes appointments from Health Connector customers who may need help finding the best plan for themselves and their families.

"Health Connector plans are now accessible for more and more people, and we're here to help," said William Cruz, certified lead patient navigator for CHP Berkshires. "Shopping for health plans can be confusing, but we can help guide this process."

Many state residents are either self-employed or do not have insurance through an employer. They often depend on subsidized plans to meet the state law requiring everyone to have health insurance.

Cruz said MA Health Connector customers are now receiving snail-mail from the state program reminding them to observe the Nov. 1 deadline. Open Enrollment lasts through Jan. 23, 2025.

Health Connector plans include coverage options with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, United Healthcare, Fallon Health, Health New England, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan, and WellSense Health Plan.

Anyone who does not wish to make insurance plan changes as of Nov. 1 will be automatically re-enrolled with their current plan and coverage.

The CHP Open Enrollment service is open to any Berkshire area resident regardless of whether they are a CHP patient.

Open Enrollment appointments can be made by calling 413.854.2816, or via email enrollment@chpberkshires.org

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Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

11:41AM / Friday, December 19, 2025

BECKET, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health has issued an advisory after a mercury-contaminated fish was found in Center Pond.

According to a letter sent to the local Board of Health from the Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, elevated levels of mercury were measured in the sample taken from the pond.

The concentration in the fish exceeded DPH's action level of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million.

"This indicates that daily consumption of fish from the waterbody may pose a health concern. Therefore, DPH has issued a FCA for Center Pond recommending that sensitive populations should not eat chain pickerel and all other people should limit consumption of chain pickerel to 2 meals/month," the letter states.

The letter specifically points to chain pickerel, but the 60-acre pond also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch.

The "sensitive populations" include children younger than 12, those who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant.

The Toxicology Division recommends reducing intake of "large, predatory fish" or fish that feed on the bottoms of waterbodies, such as largemouth bass and carp. More information on safely eating fish can be found here.

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