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Gov. Maura Healey was in Haverhill Tuesday to launch an education campaign for residents, who already qualify for health insurance help, but face onerous paperwork to remain on MassHealth insurance after new federal rules go into effect.
Healey, joined by physician and state Health and Human Services Secretary Kiame Mahaniah, MassHealth Assistant Secretary Ryan Schwarz and Health Care For All Executive Director Jennifer Lemmerman, explained President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize Medicaid was passed by Congress last year.
“It cut a trillion dollars—one trillion dollars—from healthcare. Of course, they did, they called it ‘Big and Beautiful,’ because it basically was tax cuts for the wealthiest,” the governor said.
Healey said a state awareness program, “Keep Your Coverage,” is aimed at people who still qualify for Medicaid—called MassHealth here—such as those who work in low paying jobs or are students over 26 that are paying their way through college.
Mahaniah, formerly associated with Greater Lawrence Family Center, said the campaign will use data matching to automatically exempt as many people as possible from federal cutoffs, such as those pregnant or have a dependent or already documented as working or going to school. He explained the challenge the state program seeks to resolve.
“These are people that deserve to be on MassHealth, but, because of a credible paperwork barrier the federal government is imposing, are at risk of losing the coverage for themselves and their families,” he said.
Among those standing with the governor and Mahaniah at Make It Haverhill was Mayor Melinda E. Barrett. She shared her own family story that shows why some people with health issues will need the help the state is providing.
“If I remember, taking care of my mother, I know she would not have been able to jump through the hoops to maintain any health care and this is a very important mission that the state is taking up in lieu of the federal government falling down,” she said.
Affected MassHealth members will see changes such as new work and education requirements and more frequent renewal deadlines. Immigrants legally in the U.S. will also stop being eligible for MassHealth. Healey urged each person on MassHealth to confirm their mailing address, email address and telephone number are accurate in the state system and answer every state letter, email, text message or automated call they receive. Information is also be posted online at mass.gov/MassHealthMemberChanges.
The state is using $10 million to support Boston-based Health Care For All and a statewide network of 47 community-based organizations, such as Haverhill’s Community Action. The nonprofits will provide outreach, enrollment assistance and one-on-one support to MassHealth members.
Healey pointed out everyone will be harmed by the Trump plan because sick people will still go to the hospital and everyone will pay higher health insurance premiums to cover costs.
Community Action CEO Kerri Sheeran Perry said her agency is already working with Emmaus, represented at the press conference by CEO Al Hanscom, to educate residents and provide outreach.
“We are community problem solvers who lean in to create solutions when federal headwinds head our way. We daily see people that our homeless drop-center whom we can help with this program. Daily, people come to us seeking other help such as heating assistance, adult education, SNAP, WIC, utility assistance, rental assistance support or help job searches,” she explained.
Sen. Pavel M. Payano, Reps. Andy X. Vargas and Ryan M. Hamilton, City Councilor Thomas J. Sullivan and representatives of Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Sen. Barry R. Finegold were also among those taking part.
