Have you learned you have a tax penalty for not having health insurance in 2014? If so, there could be a new Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for you. This enrollment allows those who did not have health insurance coverage during 2014 or had coverage that did not meet minimum essential coverage as defined by the law to enroll in coverage after the Open Enrollment Period (Feb 15th) ended.
You now have the opportunity to enroll in coverage during this one time SEP. It starts March 15th and ends April 30th. In order to qualify you must meet the following:
- Are not currently enrolled in health coverage through the Marketplace for 2015
- Attest that you paid the fee for not having health coverage in 2014
- Attest that you first learned of this penalty after Open Enrollment ended (Feb 15th)
You must be able to answer yes to all of the above questions.
How does this affect you?
You could now be eligible to purchase coverage through the Marketplace during this SEP (March 15th thru April 30th). You may qualify for a subsidy based on your household income and family size. This does not exclude you from the 2015 penalty, but it does allow you to reduce it since you will have coverage for part of 2015.
Who does this not help?
If you had coverage for 2014, but did not renew the policy, this SEP does not apply to you. If you did not update your coverage during Open Enrollment, you cannot make changes during this SEP. This one time SEP is only available to those who can answer yes to the 3 bullet points listed above.
What should you do now?
If you qualify, you may be seeking help to determine what options might be best for you. We have helped 1000+ North Carolinians find coverage that fits their budget and needs. In order for us to help you, simply complete the form on the right side of our website (ObamacareForNC.com). Under “Life Change,” select “I have the Tax Penalty.” Once you have completed this form, we will reach out to help you move forward. We can handle the entire process over the phone and via computer. We work hard to make this process simple and painless for you. Act now, this one time SEP will be over before you know it.