Have you enrolled in a health plan yet?

Avoid Penalties and Enroll in Coverage by February 15

The deadline to enroll in health coverage for 2015 is rapidly approaching. 

Open Enrollment closes on February 15, 2015. As a reminder, each year people may have a chance to keep or change their current plan or pick a new one during the annual Open Enrollment period. All 2014 health plans will come up for renewal during Open Enrollment.

Since unexpected issues happen to everyone, having health insurance can actually save you money. Also, if you do not get insurance coverage for 2015, you may be subject to a penalty on your tax return. This fee is either 2 percent of your yearly household or $325 per adult, whichever is higher. For children under the age of 18 the fee is $162.50. You’ll pay the fee on your 2015 federal income tax return. Most people will file this return in 2016.

Some Americans who remain uninsured will qualify for exemptions. If you are without insurance for less than 3 months, you may not have to pay a penalty. You may qualify for an exemption from the penalty if:

• You don’t have to file a tax return because your income is too low. 
• You’re a card-holding member of a federally recognized tribe or eligible for services through an Indian Health Services provider. 
• You’re a member of a recognized health care sharing ministry. 
• You’re a member of a recognized religious sect with religious objections to insurance, including Social Security and Medicare. 
• You’re incarcerated (either detained or jailed). 
• You’re not lawfully present in the U.S. 
• You qualify for a hardship exemption such as filing for bankruptcy or being homeless, evicted in the past 6 months or facing eviction or foreclosure. 

You can learn more about how to sign up for coverage and the tax penalty on the becoveredillinois.org website.

Enrollment Resources
As we approach the end of open enrollment, we want to remind you about the resources available to you. For questions about renewing or choosing a plan on Get Covered Illinois, the Official Health Marketplace, visit getcoveredillinois.gov or call 866-311-1119. Assistance is available Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Be Covered has resources to help people understand how to sign up for, renew or change their existing coverage on the becoveredillinois.org website. We encourage you to share this information with your friends and family.

Help Spread the Word 
Be Covered is working to get resources to as many people as possible. You can help support our social media outreach efforts to remind people of the February 15 final deadline to enroll for health insurance coverage in 2015. All you need to do is visit our Thunderclap page and all of your Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr followers will receive a message about the enrollment deadline from Be Covered. It’s easy and will only take you a few minutes to support. Visit Thunderclap today.

Attend the Countdown To Coverage Health Fair

Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 AM-5 PM