This winter, about 100,000 households in the Commonwealth were protected from losing their heat, electricity and other utilities by the state utility shut-off protection laws, which prevents shut-off for households whose circumstances meet certain conditions. This protection ended on May 1, and people have begun getting shut-off notices. These notices are bad news, but CAN be used to request a MassHealth premium waiver or Commonwealth Care premium waiver.
A new pamphlet offers step-by-step guidance, just in time for taxes.
Nikki Riel from the Women's Health Network in Franklin County sent me contact info for specific places at MassHealth (click the link for a printable PDF), including the Estate Recovery and Appeals units and various premium-paying programs.
This online tool identifies organizations helping with MassHealth, Commonwealth Choice and Commonwealth Care enrollment.
MassHealth Advocacy Guide, revised in September 2006, is available.
Two no-cost resources can help some MassHealth applicants verify their US citizenship and identity.
A guide with nationwide information about obtaining birth certificates, their cost, and other details is now available.
Tip sheets from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health about many resources available to families of children with special health needs are available here.