Tomorrow, February 15, 2015 is the deadline and the end of the Open Enrollment Period for 2015 to enroll in health insurance under the Affordable Care Act for people living in the Hudson Valley and across the US.   If someone is not covered by health insurance in 2015,  they will face a penalty by the Internal Revenue Service when they file their 2015 taxes.  The 2015 penalty for remaining without health insurance is $325 per adult (up from $95 per adult in 2014) and a lesser penalty for each child.

If you are a New York State resident, you can enroll online at www.nystate of health.com.  Other state residents can enroll at the federal web site at www.Healthcare.gov.   The next enrollment period will be in the fall, 2015 to enroll for health insurance beginning on January 1, 2016.  If you enroll by February 15th, your coverage will start on March 1, 2015.  You can also make changes to your 2014 health plan by tomorrow’s deadline.

If you are terminated or quit a job later this year, you will be able to enroll in  2015 health insurance plan under the Special Enrollment Period rules.  Other Special Enrollment Periods include marriage and birth of a child.

Before enrolling in any health insurance plan, always check with your doctor(s) and local hospital to make sure that they accept your health insurance plan.