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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2015
Health Insurance Marketplace Opens Special Enrollment Period for Tax Season
Eligible consumers have from March 15 through April 30 to enroll in coverage
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for the health insurance marketplace opens on March 15, 2015. This SEP is for individuals and families who did not have health coverage in 2014 and are subject to the fee or “shared responsibility payment” when they file their 2014 taxes. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), this SEP is designed for individuals who were unaware or didn’t understand the implications of the new health insurance requirement. It will allow them to still enroll for coverage through the Federally-facilitated Marketplace (FFM).
The Special Enrollment Period (SEP) will provide eligible consumers with an opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage from March 15 to April 30. If consumers do not purchase coverage for 2015 during this SEP, they may have to pay a fee of the higher amount of $325 per adult ($162.50 per child), or 2% of their income above the tax filing threshold when they file their 2015 income taxes.
To be eligible individuals and families must:
- Not be currently enrolled in coverage through the FFM for 2015,
- Have paid the fee for not having health coverage in 2014, and
- Have first become aware of, or understood the implications of, the Shared Responsibility Payment after the end of open enrollment (February 15, 2015) in connection with preparing their 2014 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 CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. “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.”
The special enrollment period will begin on March 15, 2015, and end at 11:59 pm E.S.T. on April 30, 2015. If a consumer enrolls in coverage before the 15th of the month, coverage will be effective on the first day of the following month. In addition to this SEP, individuals and families may qualify for other Special Enrollment Periods if they have qualifying life changes. For more information about how to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period individuals and families can contact Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center by visiting yesgetcovered.org or calling (906) 370-4075.
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center will continue to offer free in-person assistance to help individuals and families understand the range of affordable and accessible health insurance options available during this special enrollment period.
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center CEO Donald A. Simila, MSW, FACHE said, “if an individual doesn’t have health insurance, now is the time to enroll .”
Media Contacts:
Iola Brubaker, Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center- Outreach and Enrollment Specialist, 906.370.4075, iola.brubaker@uglhealth.org
About Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center
Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center is your community based primary care center. We are designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) dedicated to providing high quality primary care throughout the lifecycle to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.
Our team of health care providers and support staff has adopted the model of practice known as the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). PCMH is a model of healthcare based on an ongoing, personal relationship between a patient, doctor and the patient’s care team. Whatever the medical needs – primary or secondary, preventive care, acute care, chronic care, behavioral health, or end-of-life care – the patient has a medical “home”; a single, trusted doctor and care team, through which continuous, comprehensive and integrated care is provided.
| Providing exceptional health care services for all people in the Upper Great Lakes region regardless of ability to pay. |
Thank you,
Iola Brubaker, CAC | Outreach & Enrollment Specialist| Upper Great Lakes Family Health
P: 906.370.4075 | F: 906.346.9113 | 600 MacInnes Drive, Houghton, MI 49931
