By DAVE RANNEY
KHI News Service
TOPEKA — Kansans without health insurance have until March 31 to enroll in one of the coverage plans available through the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.
Those who don’t have acceptable coverage by then could be subject to a penalty on their 2014 federal income taxes.
“For this year, the penalty will be $95 for each adult and $47.50 for each child,” said Katrina McGivern, communications coordinator with the Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved, which is leading a statewide campaign aimed at helping people understand the federal health reform law, often referred to as Obamacare, and navigate the marketplace.
The first year’s penalties, she said, would be due next year. The penalties grow stiffer in future years.
“For a family (of four) in the first year, the penalty is capped at $285 or 1 percent of the family’s income, whichever is higher,” McGivern said.
Those who don’t have health insurance in 2015 will be docked $325 per adult, $162.50 per child; or 2 percent of their income, she said, and then the penalty goes up again in 2016.
“For 2016, it’s $695 for each adult, $347.50 for each child, or 2.5 percent of the family’s income,” McGivern said.
People that fall into the so-called coverage ‘donut hole’ by earning too much to be on Medicaid but too little to qualify for premium subsidies or tax credits through the marketplace are exempt from the penalties.
“But they have to file an exemption form to get out of the penalty,” McGivern said.
Navigators, she said, also are reminding people that after March 31, there won’t be another opportunity to enroll in one of the marketplace plans until Nov. 15.
“A lot of people don’t understand that,” McGivern said. “They think they can wait and get it later. They can, but the next open enrollment is Nov. 15 through Jan. 15.”
A KAMU-led coalition of advocacy groups, state officials, and health care providers this month is hosting dozens of enrollment forums across the state. A complete list is available on the coalition’s website.
The forums are free and open to the public.
“Our navigators are definitely busy,” McGivern said. “Some are extending their hours to work in as many people as they can.”
Most of the events involve brief presentations, question-and-answer sessions, and one-on-one meetings with navigators.
Since October, the state’s largest health care provider, Via Christi Health, has hosted 32 enrollment forums in and around Wichita.
“We find that many consumers have a lack of understanding of what the Affordable Care Act means and what the marketplace is offering,” said Maggie Ward, an oncology nurse who is leading Via Christi’s enrollment initiative.
“Before Jan. 1, we were seeing people who were in real need of insurance because they had significant health problems or had been turned away because of pre-existing conditions,” Ward said. “What we’re seeing now are people who had a misunderstanding of what the Affordable care Act offers.”
Across the state, McGivern said, the consortium’s navigators have helped at least 2,100 Kansans enroll in the marketplace.
Prior to the launch of the marketplace, approximately 360,000 Kansans were uninsured.
According to a recent enrollment report from federal officials, 14,242 Kansans had selected health plans through the marketplace between its rocky start on Oct. 1 and Dec. 28, 2013.
It’s not clear how many uninsured Kansans will take advantage of the marketplace.
“The numbers are kind of tricky,” McGivern said. “We know that at the end of December, we’d helped 2,100 people actually enroll, but we have no way to know how many of the 5,000 we’ve assisted, went home, thought about it, and enrolled online on their own. Unless they tell us, we have no way to know that.”