Health plans in Massachusetts are starting to offer a new type of health insurance plan, which will be more affordable than the plans available under Obamacare.
The Massachusetts Health Plan Authority is working on rules for the new plan, and the Massachusetts Department of Financial Services is also working on a proposal to make it easier for consumers to enroll.
The Massachusetts Health Plans Association announced Thursday that it will allow people to choose from two plans, which have different coverage and costs.
The association said it will work with the state Department of Public Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration to develop regulations.
“The Massachusetts Healthcare Plan Authority will be working with the Massachusetts Health Board to develop appropriate rules that will allow the Massachusetts Healthcare Plans Association to offer the new policy to the public,” the association said in a statement.
The state Department is also responsible for establishing eligibility rules and establishing a marketplace for new insurance plans.
In Massachusetts, the state plans have to cover all of the services covered by Medicare, which covers about two-thirds of people 65 and older.
The government is also looking to allow people under age 65 to buy into private insurance plans for an additional fee, which is currently $1,600 per year.
The health plans are offered by a group called HealthCare.com, which owns the name HealthCare Plan.
The group says it’s working to increase enrollment, and plans are available for pre-existing conditions and people who qualify for Medicaid, according to the Associated Press.
The company has been offering plans for more than two years.