(SitNews) Sitka, Alaska - Even though the open enrollment period to sign up for health insurance ended on February 15th, individuals and families that did not have health insurance in 2014 and had to pay the shared responsibility tax fine will have one more chance to enroll. A special enrollment period from March 15th through April 30th allows a second, and final chance for people to sign up for insurance that did not understand the tax consequences for being uninsured.

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is available to support all Southeast Alaska residents with signing up for the Health Insurance Marketplace, the federally run program that helps insurance be more affordable. After April 30th you will not be able to purchase health coverage unless you meet special enrollment requirements, and you may pay a very high tax penalty next year. Signing up for insurance during this 45 day period will ensure your coverage starts May 1, 2015.

“This special enrollment is a great break for people that did not realize they had to have health insurance, file an exemption or face a tax penalty,” says Andrea Thomas, Outreach & Enrollment Manager for SEARHC. “Now is the time to take care of signing up for health insurance before the special enrollment ends on April 30th.”

There are several ways to apply for health coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace; through individual assistance with SEARHC (free service to everyone), by calling the Marketplace toll-free, 24 hour line at 1-800-318-2596 to enroll over the phone , going to www.healthcare.gov and enrolling online, or calling United Way at 2-1-1.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)
www.

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