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Three Ways to Get Health Insurance Before Monday's Deadline March 28, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando--People without health insurance could face penalties if they don't enroll by the end of the day on Monday, March 31. Here's how to avoid it. As part of the Affordable Care Act, people who aren't enrolled in health insurance by the end of the day Eastern Time on Monday will have to pay a fee when they file their federal income taxes. The penalty is one percent of annual, household income for families earning over $19,650 per year. Those earning less will have to pay $95 per adult and $47.50 per child – up to a total of $285 per family. People will get a few days leeway if they prove they tried to sign up for health insurance but couldn’t. For instance, those who called for help or opened an account online and then asked for help. The only people exempt from the health insurance penalty are those who make too little income to necessitate filing federal income taxes; people in prison; and people facing crises like homelessness or bankruptcy. Here are three way to sign up: OPTION ONE: HEALTHCARE.GOV: Anyone can sign up anytime via this website. The Primary Care Access Network is helping area residents enroll, and PCAN Marketplace Exchange Project Coordinator Anne Packham says signing up is easy. “People think it’s really daunting and scary, but I think, when they get on the website and see how easy it is to get on the website and answer the basic questions, it’s really not as scary as it seems.” OPTION TWO: 1-800-318-2596: That’s the toll-free number to sign up by phone. Packham says people shouldn’t call it at the last minute because navigators will be juggling a large number of calls just before midnight. OPTION THREE: LOCAL NAVIGATORS: Navigators are people trained to help with healthcare enrollment. They’ll be out at the following places in the community over the next few days. To get an appointment through PCAN, call 1-877-564-5031. Limited walk-in spaces are available for some events.
Saturday, March 29
Dover Shores Community Center 1400 Gaston Foster Rd. Orlando, FL 32813 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 30
New Life Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church 3239 Old Winter Garden Road, Suites 12 & 25 Orlando, FL 32805 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, March 31
Arab American Community Center 7061 Grand National Drive, Suite 139 Orlando FL 32819 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lila Mitchell-Ivy Lake Neighborhood Center for Families 5151-C Raleigh St. Orlando, FL 32811 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hope Center Apopka 1016 N. Park Ave. Apopka, FL 32712 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Longwood Enrollment Center 600 N. Hwy. 17-92 Suite 158 Longwood, FL 32750 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
East Orange Community Center 12050 E Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32826 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Osceola Council on Aging 700 Generation Point Kissimmee, FL 34744 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lake Cares 2001 W Old US Highway 441 Mt. Dora, FL 32757 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eatonvile Enrollment Center 434 W Kennedy Blvd Orlando, FL 32810 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
James R Smith Recreation Center 1723 Bruton Blvd Orlando FL 32805 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. |
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