Between now and April 15, some tax filers will have to pay a fee called a “shared responsibility payment,” for not having health coverage. For those who were unaware or didn’t understand the implications of the fee for not enrolling in coverage, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is giving consumers an opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage from March 15 to April 30, 2015.
Virginians may be eligible to take advantage of this Special Enrollment Period (SEP), if they; currently are not enrolled in coverage through the Federally-facilitated Marketplace for 2015; Attest that when they filed their 2014 tax return they paid the fee for not having health coverage in 2014, and attest that they first became 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.
Individuals taking advantage of this SEP will still owe a fee for the months they were uninsured and did not receive an exemption. This SEP is designed to allow such individuals the opportunity to get covered for the remainder of the year and avoid additional fees for 2015.
The Marketplace also provides Special Enrollment Periods for individuals who experience changes in life circumstances during the year such as loss of job-based health coverage, a marriage, release from incarceration, or birth or adoption of a child.
Consumers seeking to take advantage of Special Enrollment Periods can find out if they are eligible by calling the Federally-facilitated Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596, or by contacting a local assister in their area 1-888-392-5132. In the Roanoke Valley, Enroll Virginia’s Navigator Office provides free, in-person assistance. Calling 540-345-1839 can make appointments.
ENROLL Virginia! is a nonprofit, nonpartisan entity that assists individuals and small businesses to obtain health insurance including commercial health coverage through the federally facilitated health insurance marketplace, to qualify for applicable tax subsidies, and to comply with the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and avoid penalties for failure to do so. The program is paid for by a federal grant (Funding Opportunity Number CA-NAV-13-001 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and administered by the Virginia Poverty Law Center.
