Juan Carlos Santana originally came through the doors of Uphams Community Care to try to better understand health insurance and the Massachusetts Health Connector.

Now, he shows up every day to help others figure out that same conundrum – but now as a certified Health Connector navigator at Uphams. And over the next few days, as an extraordinarily busy open enrollment period ends on Dec. 23, he’ll be doing more navigating than ever before.

“What brought me here through these doors was the fact I was confused about insurance and how to get it,” he said during a press conference at Uphams with Health Connector officials. “Now I have the opportunity to come here to help others navigate that same problem.”

Above, Uphams Navigators Maria Duarte, Juan Carlos Santana, and Eugenia Buker are at the ready to help folks get signed up for health insurance before the Dec. 23 deadline. Those seeking guidance do not need to be patients of Uphams to talk with the navigators. Seth Daniel photo

Santana and two other navigators, Maria Duarte and Eugenia Buker, are busier than ever this year during open enrollment, which started in November for those looking to secure insurance starting Jan. 1, due to a pilot program expansion in the Health Connector program and more people looking for insurance using the state program.

“We are gearing up for an important deadline this Saturday, Dec. 23, which is the deadline for those wishing to sign up for coverage starting in the new year,” said Audrey Gasteier, executive director of the Health Connector. “Historically Dorchester is one of our three largest communities in terms of membership in the Connector. It’s often the largest in terms of enrollment in our Connector Care program. Bottom line, we are here because we know there are many, many people in Dorchester that can qualify for Health Connector coverage and the financial help we provide. We want them to act right now.”

The expansion of the Connector Care program is a pilot program put in the State Budget by Gov. Maura Healey and approved by the State Legislature. The expansion allows an increase in those eligible, going from those at 300 percent of the federal poverty line to those at 500%. It means one person earning $73,000 could qualify and a family of four earning $150,000 or less could qualify.

“The pilot expansion of Connector Care creates the opportunity for tens of thousands of new people who haven’t qualified for it before to get those benefits,” she said. “These changes create the largest state-level expansion in state-financed health care affordability since the Connector was created in 2006.”

Uphams CEO Jay Trivedi said it will be critical in the next few days to get as many Dorchester patients as possible in line for insurance from the Health Connector because it has become an essential tool for accessing health care at Uphams.

“It is a vital resource for our patients and our community,” he said. “With it we’re able to address health disparities that are often ignored in our patients due to limited access to health care resources. The Health Connector is important to our low-income communities as it addresses financial barriers, promotes health disparities amongst all communities, promotes access to preventative care…”

The Uphams navigators will have extended hours Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Uphams Community Care is located at 415 Columbia Rd. The state Health Connector hotline is (877) MA-ENROLL.