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By Mark Richardson, Public News Service - AZ - Producer, Contact
January 27, 2016PHOENIX - People who are uninsured and have not signed up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act have until this Sunday to enroll. Information and registration for the health insurance marketplace, also known as 'Obamacare,' is available on healthcare.gov, but Arizonans can also get free assistance with finding the right coverage.
Diane Brown, executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group, says help is close by in most every city and town in the state.
"It is important that people know there is free, in-person help available across the state," says Brown. "There are individuals who can sit down, help people walk through decisions on which insurance plan they wish to choose."
Brown says Jan. 31 is the last day to sign up through open enrollment and get coverage for 2016. She says the sign-up assistance is available online at coveraz.org/connector, or by calling a toll-free number, 844-790-4946.
Brown adds failing to sign up for health insurance by the deadline can end up costing you. There are federal penalties for not being covered.
"If an individual does not get insurance by Jan. 31, it is very likely they could be faced with a fine of $695 for an individual," she says, "or a couple thousand dollars for a family."
Brown says the health-insurance marketplace provides financial assistance for most people to offset the cost of their insurance premiums, based on income and other factors. She says three out of four people in Arizona will end up paying less than $100 a month for coverage.
