There still is time to avoid paying a penalty by signing up for health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. The last day to enroll in coverage is March 31.
The Affordable Care Act requires that most Americans obtain health insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty, called the individual mandate. The penalty for 2014 is $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, up to $285, or one percent of the household income, whichever number is greater. This penalty will be applied to taxpayers’ annual taxable income for each month a taxpayer and his or her family does not have health insurance after March 31.
“This is where the University of Georgia can help the uninsured in our community,” said Joan Koonce, family and consumer sciences family financial-planning specialist. “With many people lacking access to a computer or needing assistance navigating healthcare.gov, UGA navigators can help. We can assist individuals and their families view available health plans and determine if they’re eligible for subsidized health coverage or other insurance options.”
UGA navigators are available at convenient times, including evenings and weekends, and provide free services that include in-person application assistance; education on types of health coverage; information about premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions; and assistance with grievances, penalty exemptions and/or appeals.
To enroll in coverage today, call Martha Weston, UGA navigator for Liberty, Long, Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn and McIntosh counties, at 706-424-3577 or email mweston@uga.edu.