Special Enrollment Period for #ACA
From HHS:
The special enrollment period provides qualified
individuals with one last chance to get covered for 2015.
·
Individuals
and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and are subject to the shared
responsibility fee when they file their 2014 taxes in states which use the
Federally-facilitated Marketplaces may be eligible for a special enrollment
period to sign up for health insurance for the remainder of 2015.
·
People who meet the
following requirements are eligible for the special enrollment period:
o You owe the
fee for not having coverage in 2014
o You didn't know until after February 15, 2015 that the
health care law required you and your household to have health coverage, or you
didn’t understand how that requirement would affect you or your family.
o You aren’t already enrolled in 2015 coverage through the
Health Insurance Marketplace
·
The special enrollment
period will run from March 15 – April 30, 2015.
Avoid
the full fee next year.
·
If you don’t purchase coverage for the remainder of 2015 during
this special enrollment period -- and you don’t qualify for an exemption
- you’ll risk having to pay the fee again next year for the entire year when
you file your taxes.
·
The fee for people who
don’t have coverage increases in 2015.
·
If you don’t have
coverage in 2015 you’ll pay $325 per person or 2% of your yearly household
income – whichever is higher.
·
In 2016, the fee
increases again to $695 per person or 2.5% of your income.
·
If you were already uninsured for the first three months of 2015,
you may owe a portion of the fee when you file your taxes next year for the
months you were uninsured in 2015.
However, this special enrollment period allows you to sign up for health
coverage for the rest of 2015, gaining health insurance, and avoiding the fee
for the remaining months of 2015.
Know your
options.
·
People need to be
aware of the options available to them and their families.
·
For most families, we
believe the best option is to learn about the financial assistance that is
available and to enroll in a plan that meets their needs – rather than choosing
to get by without insurance and risk having to pay the fee, and the cost for
any medical care they need.
Affordable
plans are available.
·
87 percent of people
who selected 2015 plans through HealthCare.gov in the first two months of open
enrollment received financial assistance to help lower the cost of premiums.
·
Eight out of 10 people
can find coverage for $100 or less a month with tax credits through the
Marketplace.
Join
the millions.
·
Millions of Americans
have already signed up for coverage through the Marketplace. If you don’t have
health insurance, visit HealthCare.gov – take a look at the plans and financial
help available. You may be surprised to learn that the security that comes with
health coverage is within your reach.
We
are ready to help.
·
We’re working to meet
consumers where they are, whether that’s online, over the phone or in
person.
o By Phone: Marketplace call center representatives are available to
help all day, every day at 1-800-318-2596. TTY users should call
1-855-889-4325. The call is free.
o In Person: Find in-person assistance in your own community at
localhelp.healthcare.gov
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