Feb. 20--This tax season -- the first when people will be hit with a potentially unexpected fee for not having health insurance -- has lead the federal government to allow some to sign up for a 2015 plan from March 15 through April 30.
This additional special enrollment period is for those who did not have 2014 coverage and therefore must pay a penalty of 1 percent of their income or $95 per person, whichever is more. Anyone who goes without health insurance in 2015 will pay the greater amount of 2 percent of income or $325.
This extra open enrollment period is only for residents of the 37 states, including Illinois, that use the federally facilitated marketplace, HealthCare.gov.
The original open enrollment period for 2015 coverage ran from Nov. 15 through Feb. 15, though some extensions were granted to sign up through Sunday after technical issues for those attempting to enroll last weekend.
If consumers who take advantage of the additional tax season window enroll by April 15, coverage begins May 1. If they enroll from April 16 to April 30, coverage begins in June. Those who sign up will not face a fee on their 2015 taxes.
"We recognize that this is the first tax filing season where consumers may have to pay a fee or claim an exemption for not having health insurance coverage," said Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Our priority is to make sure consumers understand the new requirement to enroll in health coverage and to provide those who were not aware or did not understand the requirement with an opportunity to enroll in affordable coverage this year."
ehirst@tribpub.com
