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Special Enrollment Period for ACA Coverage Starts Sunday

Health access advocates are gearing up to assist applicants seeking health insurance through the online Marketplace, as a special enrollment period starts this weekend for those who are being penalized for failing to sign up for a plan.

"Why the federal government decided to start this on Sunday is hard for us to explain," says Dr. Wendy Wolf, President and CEO of Maine Health Access Foundation.

But Wolf says there should be plenty of time for folks to enroll before the deadline at the end of next month, and she says assisters and navigators will certainly be available Monday to help those seeking insurance plans.
 
"I imagine March 15th there may be one or two people thinking about this, and then as it gets closer to tax filing time there will probably be lots of people thinking about this," Wolf says.

That's because as people file their taxes by April 15, they may just become aware that they're on the hook for a penalty if they failed to enroll in a plan last year.

While the special enrollment period doesn't expunge that penalty, it does give people a chance to avoid penalties next year, and get covered.

Wolf says about 90 percent of people in Maine who signed up through the Marketplace have been able to get good coverage with the financial assistance available.

The special enrollment period runs from March 15 through April 30.