Miss Sunday health care sign-up, face a tax penalty in 2015

Sunday is the last day to get health insurance to avoid a tax penalty for 2015 under the Affordable Care Act.

Covered California officials are urging people to take advantage of enrollment events that are planned this weekend in Merced and elsewhere in the state.

“We’re nearing the finish line on the second year of this historic initiative, and we don’t want to leave anyone behind,” Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee said Thursday. “Millions of people have gotten covered, which in turn has provided them with the medical care they deserve at the time they need it.”

Covered California is the state’s insurance exchange that was created for the Affordable Care Act.

People who start the Covered California enrollment process or make an appointment by Sunday with a certified insurance agent or enrollment counselor will have until Feb. 20 to finish the application, Lee said.

But they must be working with certified insurance agents, enrollment counselors, plan-based helpers, county eligibility workers or service center representatives at Covered California.

“We will help people get across the finish line in the days following the deadline, but you must take steps to begin the process by (Sunday) by starting an application or making an appointment,” Lee said.

“Individuals who try to enroll online on (Monday) will not be able to sign up online unless they have started and get help from one of the thousands of enrollers across the state,” he said.

Nearly 9 out of 10 people who enrolled last year in Covered California health plans received federal subsidies to help pay for monthly insurance premiums. The estimated average amount received for a year’s coverage was more than $5,200 per household, according to Covered California.

People can seek professional help at local health insurance agencies or at enrollment events at the following Merced locations:

▪ Today: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at United Way of Merced County at 658 W. Main St.

▪ Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Golden Valley Health Centers’ enrollment center at 727 W. Childs Ave.

▪ Sunday: 9 a.m to 7 p.m. at the Healthy House office at 301 W. 18th St.

Those interested in signing up need to bring the following documents: a California driver’s license or ID, the most recent tax returns with W-2s and proof of income, such as pay stubs. Applicants must also bring their naturalization certificates or green cards if they were not born in the United States.

This story was originally published February 13, 2015 at 6:13 PM with the headline "Miss Sunday health care sign-up, face a tax penalty in 2015."