Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced a substantially increased investment in state support for a program that promises to help hold down health care premiums for many residents. Healey announced a $250 million increase in the state’s investment in the ConnectorCare program on Thursday afternoon alongside Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, Massachusetts Health Connector Executive Director Audrey Morse Gasteier and others. The additional funds bring the investment to a total of $600 million.According to Healey, the trust fund will help approximately 270,000 customers who earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level mitigate the costs of premium increases. About one-quarter of those will see no premium hikes and others will see reduced increases, officials said.”We lead as a state, among all states, in helping people have access to health care and health care insurance coverage,” the governor said. “And Massachusetts today is doing more than any other state in the country when it comes to this issue.” Last month, Healey demanded Congressional action on the Affordable Care Act subsidies, but federal lawmakers have not yet reached an agreement. The governor’s office previously estimated that 328,000 Massachusetts residents who purchase their coverage through the Health Connector will see premiums increase as much as $25,000 in 2026. Video below: Gov. Healey makes the announcementHealey had previously said the state had no way to make up for the loss of federal subsidies, but decided to tap a state trust fund for this investment. It will only help cut the pain of health care premiums for one year. The tax credits were at the heart of fierce, partisan discussions in Congress over the past several months, including the record-setting government shutdown.While the Healey administration blamed the cost crisis on Republican leadership in Washington, the GOP’s local leader said Democrats need to come to the table.”Instead of putting further strain on the state budget in Massachusetts, Gov. Healey should be pressing her Democratic allies in Congress to negotiate a real healthcare solution. We can’t spend our way out of every crisis,” said Amy Carnevale, chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party.Video below: Healey’s demands to CongressOpen enrollment for the Health Connector runs through Jan. 23. The deadline for coverage to start the New Year was Dec. 23.Residents who need help finding coverage options are instructed to visit the Health Connector’s Navigator program online, or call 1-877-MA-ENROLL from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.W2lmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vaGVhcnN0dGVsZXZpc2lvbmRhdGFqb3VybmFsaXNtLmh0dmFwcHMuY29tL2FmLWNhLWFjLWludGUvaW5kZXguaHRtbCIgc2Nyb2xsaW5nPSJubyIgZnJhbWVib3JkZXI9IjAiIHN0eWxlPSJ3aWR0aDogMDsgbWluLXdpZHRoOiAxMDAlICFpbXBvcnRhbnQ7IGJvcmRlcjogbm9uZTsgaGVpZ2h0OjExMDBweDsiIF1bL2lmcmFtZV0=

BOSTON —

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced a substantially increased investment in state support for a program that promises to help hold down health care premiums for many residents.

Healey announced a $250 million increase in the state’s investment in the ConnectorCare program on Thursday afternoon alongside Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, Massachusetts Health Connector Executive Director Audrey Morse Gasteier and others. The additional funds bring the investment to a total of $600 million.

According to Healey, the trust fund will help approximately 270,000 customers who earn less than 400% of the federal poverty level mitigate the costs of premium increases. About one-quarter of those will see no premium hikes and others will see reduced increases, officials said.

“We lead as a state, among all states, in helping people have access to health care and health care insurance coverage,” the governor said. “And Massachusetts today is doing more than any other state in the country when it comes to this issue.”

Last month, Healey demanded Congressional action on the Affordable Care Act subsidies, but federal lawmakers have not yet reached an agreement. The governor’s office previously estimated that 328,000 Massachusetts residents who purchase their coverage through the Health Connector will see premiums increase as much as $25,000 in 2026.

Video below: Gov. Healey makes the announcement

Healey had previously said the state had no way to make up for the loss of federal subsidies, but decided to tap a state trust fund for this investment. It will only help cut the pain of health care premiums for one year.

The tax credits were at the heart of fierce, partisan discussions in Congress over the past several months, including the record-setting government shutdown.

While the Healey administration blamed the cost crisis on Republican leadership in Washington, the GOP’s local leader said Democrats need to come to the table.

“Instead of putting further strain on the state budget in Massachusetts, Gov. Healey should be pressing her Democratic allies in Congress to negotiate a real healthcare solution. We can’t spend our way out of every crisis,” said Amy Carnevale, chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party.

Video below: Healey’s demands to Congress

Open enrollment for the Health Connector runs through Jan. 23. The deadline for coverage to start the New Year was Dec. 23.

Residents who need help finding coverage options are instructed to visit the Health Connector’s Navigator program online, or call 1-877-MA-ENROLL from Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.