Find your North Star: Get better access to Northern Light Health

Find your North Star: Better access to Northern Light Health—wherever you live in Maine

If you live Downeast or in northern Maine, it’s a given that you’ll need to travel for some of the healthcare you need. You might enjoy the convenience of a virtual primary care provider or have a doctor close to home, but easy accessibility goes out the window if you need a specialist.

After all, if you live in the County, and start to suffer from digestive issues, your primary care provider might recommend that you see a specialist for a test like an endoscopy to find out if you have an ulcer or other problem. That means you might have to drive at least two hours down I-95 to Bangor—maybe even three. That’s a long day.

For 2026, Community Health Options and Northern Light Health teamed up to make access a little easier—and out-of-pocket costs much lower—for any Community Health Options Member using Northern Light Health’s nine hospitals, 125 facilities and 1,000 providers. Together, the two Maine-based nonprofits hope to ensure that high-quality care is available to anyone in Maine, from Kittery to Fort Kent.

Introducing North Star health plans

Two new North Star health plans offer special savings on select services for individuals/families and small businesses in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Hancock, Aroostook and Washington counties. Mainers can buy those plans during Open Enrollment (Nov. 1-Dec. 15) to begin on Jan. 1, 2026.

Remember needing to see a specialist for that burning in your stomach? The North Star plans offer extra savings beyond the lower rates already available in other Community Health Options plans:  

• An average 17% discount for outpatient services
• An average 33% discount for inpatient hospital services

These plans are both tiered HMO plans, available to those in eligible counties. Look for one of these two plans:

• Health Options Clear Choice North Star Silver $5000 HMO Tiered NE
• Health Options Clear Choice North Star Bronze $7500 HMO Tiered NE

If you're considering these plans, or any other options, keep in mind that a new federal rule allows any Bronze plan available on the Marketplace to be paired with a Health Savings Account. Learn more about that new rule here.

Beyond the North: Lower cost, simpler care for everyone

The expanded Northern Light Health relationship benefits all Community Health Options Members through:

• Better pricing: Improved rates for services at Northern Light Health's facilities, including Northern Light Mercy Hospital in Portland.
• Simpler experience: Faster Prior Approvals and streamlined billing
• Preferred provider status: All Northern Light providers and services are designated as preferred for any Member on a tiered HMO plan. 

Looking for a new plan or have questions about getting a plan? Connect with a Community Health Options advisor to explore your options. You can schedule a call here. Have questions about your current plan and coverage? Please call Member Services at (855) 624-6463.

If you'd like to read more about Community Health Options and 2026 health plan options and benefits, click here. 

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