Counting Down To March 31 — The End Of The Health Law’s Open Enrollment Period
News outlets offer tips and answer questions about what consumers need to know as the deadline to sign up for health insurance approaches.
Los Angeles Times: Obamacare Countdown: What You Need To Know About The March 31 Deadline
The buzzer is about to sound on Obamacare enrollment. Less than two weeks are left to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, the federal law that went into effect this year. It requires that most Americans have health insurance and provides government assistance to make coverage cheaper (Karlamangla and Terhune, 3/18).
The Wall Street Journal: Tax Experts: Brace For Insurance Tumult
Headaches over the health care overhaul are likely to grow in the coming year as tens of millions of Americans face the task of establishing that they have insurance coverage to avoid paying penalties, tax experts say. … Perhaps the biggest problem is a lack of public understanding of the complex and frequently-changing program, tax experts say. They expect that to be compounded by a misunderstanding of the penalties, as many don't realize they could pay more than the minimum $95 for not having insurance (McKinnon, 3/18).
Kaiser Health News: Capsules: What You Need To Know As Health Care Deadline Looms
Listen to KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey on NPR’s Tell Me More program Tuesday talking about the upcoming deadline for many Americans to buy health insurance or face a fine (3/18).
The CT Mirror: Obamacare Q&A: Health Insurance Deadlines And Taxes
There are two weeks to go in the first-ever open enrollment period for buying private insurance coverage as part of the federal health law commonly known as Obamacare. After March 31, Connecticut residents won't be able to buy individual-market health plans for this year, unless they go through a change in circumstances like losing a job or getting divorced (and no, getting sick doesn't count). Here’s what you need to know about the deadline, how you can qualify for a special enrollment period if something changes and you need coverage after March 31, the penalty for not having insurance and how to get an exemption from the individual mandate (Becker, 3/18).
The Baltimore Sun: Deadline Looms To Enroll In Health Insurance
Edward Brown heard a radio ad recently and realized the clock was ticking: If he wanted health insurance, the Baltimore truck driver needed to find time to sign up before the end of March. ... Exchange officials in Maryland are trying to lure as many walk-ins like Brown as possible before the end of open enrollment through a barrage of methods (Cohn, 3/18).
CNN: The Affordable Care Act Wants You
Less than two weeks remain before the March 31 deadline to apply for the Affordable Care Act and the Obama administration is getting creative in reminding Americans to sign up by trying to reach every demographic imaginable.The administration this month is deploying quirky stunts and niche messaging to reach as many people as possible, including those "young invincibles" considered essential to making the program work economically. So far, the administration says it has signed up 5 million people. Here's what it's doing to boost the rolls between now and the end of the month when those who don't have insurance of any kind would face a fine of $95 or 1 percent of their income, whichever is higher (Caldwell, 3/18).