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Massachusetts' Health Exchange Wants Better Customer Service

BOSTON (AP) — The state's health connector has named 14 community groups to help local residents sign up during the next open enrollment period for health insurance coverage.

Connector officials said Thursday that the "Navigators," as they are officially called, will focus outreach on communities with higher rates of uninsured residents.

The next open enrollment period begins Nov. 1.

The agency also plans to offer extended customer service hours and open new walk-in help centers in Springfield, New Bedford, Brockton and Lowell.

This will be the third open enrollment period for Massachusetts under the federal Affordable Care Act. The first was marred by the near-total failure of the state's health exchange to process online applications.

A rebuilt website improved operations last year, but state officials said there continued to be hundreds of glitches in the system.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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