Penalties Loom As Healthcare Deadline Approaches
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The deadline to sign up for healthcare coverage is coming up in just a few short days.
Open enrollment for the affordable care act ends this Sunday February 15th, but there are still a lot of questions about the new healthcare law.
There are several ways to sign up for Obamacare, but you don’t have to do it alone.
People are available to help you all the way up to the deadline.
This is the second year that everyone has been required to have health insurance under the new law.
There are still a lot of questions, but Mary Ann Thornton with Health Services Inc. says it’s been a lot smoother this time around.
“A lot of the glitches that we experienced last year, they’ve worked those things out and continue to upgrade and continue to work on any glitches that we come into contact with, so the process is a lot easier,” said Thornton.
Thornton and her staff help guide people through the process of signing up for insurance. People like Felicia McQueen.
“There has been a lot of looking, they’ll call you, they’ll ask you this question, that question. But when I came here it wasn’t all that bad. They just got me information, put me in the computer, got me a quote,” said McQueen.
Alabamians have more choices through the healthcare dot gov site this year, with both blue cross blue shield and united health offering plans.
Open enrollment started in November and Thornton says that so far more than 150 thousand people have signed up.
She expects that number to almost double through this week.
But if you’re one of those still looking for coverage, don’t take too much time.
“If they don’t purchase insurance by the 15th, theres a possibility that they will be penalized for healthcare, especially if they can afford it in the next tax return year,” said Thornton.
That penalty is set at two percent of your income or $325, whichever is more expensive.
There are special circumstances to sign up throughout the year if you have a life changing event like getting married or having a child.
If you have any more questions, you can call Health Services Incorporated at 420-5001 ext. 173. There will be staff working through the weekend.
