Originally published by Kaiser Health News. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit national health policy news service.
A “teachable moment” is one way to describe the consternation that many uninsured people may feel when they file their taxes this spring and realize they could owe a penalty for not having health insurance.
According to a new survey, the number of people who may need to be schooled is substantial: Forty-four percent of uninsured people who may be subject to the penalty say they know nothing or only a little about the penalty they may face.
The Urban Institute analysis was based on its December 2014 Health Reform Monitoring Survey of uninsured adults with incomes above the poverty level, a group that might be expected to owe a penalty for not having coverage.
For 2014, the penalty is the greater of $95 or 1 percent of annual income. In 2015, the penalty increases to 2 percent or $325, whichever is greater.
People who don’t become aware of the penalty until they file their 2014 taxes in March or April could end up owing penalties for both years. The open enrollment period to sign up for 2015 health insurance ended Feb. 15.
Under pressure from consumer advocates, the Obama administration on Friday said it will allow a special enrollment period from March 15 to April 30 for those who realize while filling out their taxes that they owe a fee for not signing up for coverage last year. The special period applies to people in the 37 states covered by the federal marketplace, though some state-run exchanges are also expected to follow suit.
