If you’re uninsured, there’s still time to sign up for health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace and avoid the penalty. Under the Affordable Care Act, 2015 is the first year Americans must prove they had qualifying health insurance (or an approved exemption) for the previous year (when filing 2014 taxes), or face a tax penalty.

For 2015, if you don’t obtain insurance by Feb. 15, the last day to of the Open Enrollment period, the penalty will be applied to your annual taxable income for each full month you don’t have health insurance in 2015. The penalty fee is $325 per adult, $162.50 per child — up to $975/family or 2 percent of family income, whichever is higher. And, without insurance, you will be financially responsible for all of your medical costs.

The good news is based on household income and dependents, some individuals may qualify for financial assistance from the government — or subsidies — toward the cost of the premium and other financial obligations like co-pays or deductibles. Four out of five previously uninsured people got financial assistance to help lower their insurance costs in the first month of open enrollment.

This is where Natchez Community Hospital and Natchez Regional Medical Center can help the uninsured in our community.

With many people lacking access to a computer or just need help maneuvering through the enrollment website, our application counselors can help. We can assist individuals, and their families evaluate the available health plans and determine if they are eligible for Medicaid or other insurance options.

Let us help take the frustration out of the enrollment process. Call me at 601-445-6211 or Sandy Rogers, 601-443-2834 before Feb. 15 to help you get a healthy start to the New Year.

 

Melanie Griffith is a financial counselor and certified application counselor at Natchez Community Hospital.