It's last call at HealthCare.gov. Today is the last day to get private health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, located at HealthCare.gov.
If you do not currently have health insurance (or you've been buying coverage on your own and want to change your plan), your open enrollment period for purchasing a plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace ends at midnight tonight. If you do not sign up by tonight and you remain uninsured, you will be subject to a fine on your 2014 taxes (either $95 or one percent of your annual income, whichever is higher), which will increase each year. Plus, you won't be covered, and you' ll be putting yourself at risk for incredibly expensive medical costs in the event that you do get sick.
Worried about glitches or super-long wait times? As long as you start your enrollment today (by starting your application online or by getting in line at the call center or an in-person enrollment center), you will have the opportunity to finish that enrollment process at a later date if you're not able to do so today. "Starting tomorrow, they can go into the system and apply for a special enrollment period," says Mayra Alvarez, associate director of minority health for the Department of Health and Human Services. This is for those people who have attempted to enroll and weren't able to—particularly due to circumstances outside of their control, says Alvarez.
To date, over 6 million people have enrolled through the Health Insurance Marketplace—but you're not alone if you've been procrastinating. Over 2.5 million calls have come into the call center in the last few weeks alone, says Alvarez.
The fact is, not having health insurance kills thousands each year. So if you need insurance and you haven't signed up already, head to HealthCare.gov now to get started.
Still not entirely sure if you need to sign up? Click here for 8 things you need to know about the Health Insurance Marketplace and check out the frequently asked questions about ObamaCare.
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