Important Announcements

Nondiscrimination Policy Update

Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.

To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.

Healthy Start Program

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About the Program

The Healthy Start Program provides health insurance to low-income, uninsured pregnant women in order to improve access to early, comprehensive, and continuous prenatal care to improve the health of newborns and their mothers.

Populations Served

Healthy Start is for low-income, uninsured pregnant women who are also eligible for MassHealth Limited. Family-group income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Service Offerings

The Healthy Start Program provides coverage for the following pregnancy-related services:

  • Pregnancy-related primary and specialty care
  • Outpatient mental health, up to 10 visits per pregnancy
  • Prescriptions
  • Pregnancy-related radiology and laboratory services
  • Amniocentesis
  • Prescribed durable medical equipment, up to $300 per pregnancy
  • Home nursing postpartum visits (limited to two visits for pregnancies without complications and limited to five visits for pregnancies with complications or C-sections)
  • Office visits, including family planning
  • Postpartum obstetric and gynecological care
  • Newborn hospital and outpatient care including one postpartum pediatric ambulatory visit

Healthy Start benefit limitations are based on a pregnancy basis, rather than a fiscal-year or lifetime basis. If you become pregnant again, and are eligible for the Healthy Start Program, you are eligible for these benefits again.

Individuals enrolled in Healthy Start are also eligible for MassHealth Limited, which covers emergency services including inpatient labor and delivery and emergency transportation. In addition, Healthy Start members are eligible for the Uncompensated Care Pool, which covers some other medically necessary services.

Newborns born to mothers enrolled in Healthy Start and MassHealth Limited will receive MassHealth Standard benefits starting at birth through the first year of life.

Eligibility Criteria

You may be eligible for Healthy Start if you are:

  • A pregnant woman, and
  • Not eligible for MassHealth (except MassHealth Limited), and
  • Have family-group income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level

Application Process

Call MassHealth Customer Service at 800-841-2900 or 800-497-4648 (TTY) to request a Medical Benefit Request (MBR), or click to download a Medical Benefit Request:

Submit the completed application to:

MassHealth Enrollment Center
Central Processing Unit
P.O. Box 290794
Charlestown, MA 02129-0214

Contact Information

Healthy Start Program Customer Service: 888-488-9161
MassHealth Customer Service: 800-841-2900 or 800-497-4648 (TTY)

Office Hours

Healthy Start Program Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM
MassHealth Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM

Privacy Policy

Notice of Privacy Practices

This information is provided in part by MassHealth and mass.gov.