Time Running Out To Sign Up For Health Insurance Or Be Penalized
DENVER (CBS4) - Time is running out to get health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado and avoid getting penalized.
The program allows people to get financial assistance for their health insurance and the deadline for open enrollment is midnight on Sunday. Those who fail to enroll will have to pay a tax penalty.
On Saturday evening, a lot of people waited until the last minute at the Connect for Health Service Center on the 16th Street Mall, which closed at 6 p.m. It will be open one final day on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. to get enrolled.
There are more service centers across Colorado that will be open for the final push to get Coloradans covered for a lower premium. It's also possible to avoid missing the deadline by enrolling online.
Approximately 135,000 Coloradans are registered for health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado. A person's income is what determines whether they qualify for an advanced tax credit that comes off the monthly premium. The experts at the service centers will help people figure how much they'll save.
"Hundreds upon hundreds of brokers and coverage guides all over the state are available to help," said Gary Drews, Interim Connect for Health Colorado CEO. "Our phone lines are pretty packed right now … human nature is to wait until the last minute and we're feeling a bit of the brunt of that. But right now come on down to the 16th Street Mall and you can get coverage."
The penalty for being uninsured this year is 2 percent of income that would be deducted from a tax return.
