Just days left before the Affordable Care Act insurance enrollment deadline

ENROLLMENT SO FARThe following numbers and percentages of Affordable Care Act insurance enrollments were recorded from October 2013 through February 2014:Tennessee – 79% of 5-month targetPeople who have chosen a private plan* – 77,867People found eligible for Medicaid program – 55,672Percent of those who have chosen a private plan who are 18-34 – 25%Georgia – 85% of 5-month targetPeople who have chosen a private plan* – 139,371People found eligible for Medicaid program – 62,162Percent of those who have chosen a private plan who are 18-34 – 28%Alabama – 84% of 5-month targetPeople who have chosen a private plan* – 55,034 (84% of 5-month target)People found eligible for Medicaid program – 17,980Percent of those who have chosen a private plan who are 18-34 -28%Nationwide – 75% of 5-month targetPeople who have chosen a private plan* – 4.2 millionPeople found eligible for Medicaid program -4 millionPercent of those who have chosen a private plan who are 18-34- 25%*It is still unknown how many people have actually paid premiums needed to finish their enrollment.Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, New York Times

WHAT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE?Monday March 31 is the last day of open enrollment for coverage in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act, but it is also the deadline to buy insurance in order to avoid paying penalties under the ACA’s “individual mandate” – which requires people to have health coverage.The penalty, which will kick in when federal taxes are filed next year, will be $95 per adult and $47.50 per child (up to $285 for a family) or 1 percent of family income. The next year, it will triple.There are some exceptions. People who do not make enough money to file federal income taxes and who can’t find a health plan that costs less than 8 percent of their incomes are exempt from the mandate, along with other categories for “hardship exemption.”Approximately 20 percent of Americans are not already insured through their jobs, individually, or government programs.Source: Healthcare.gov, Kaiser Family Foundation

DEADLINE & EXTENSIONThe Obama administration is granting more time for people to apply for health care if they started the process but were unable to complete it before the Monday deadline.Monday remains the hard deadline for enrolling in all individual plans – not just those bought through the ACA.To complete enrollment, people must also send their first month’s premium payment to the insurer.Enrollment is not scheduled to resume until November, which means that folks need to enroll now to be covered for this year.Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.